Focus Where It Should Be

Psalm 1:1-6 (GW)

(1)Blessed is the person who does not follow the advice of wicked people, take the path of sinners, or join the company of mockers. (2) Rather, he delights in the teachings of the LORD and reflects on his teachings day and night. (3) He is like a tree planted beside streams- a tree that produces fruit in season and whose leaves do not wither. He succeeds in everything he does. (4) Wicked people are not like that. Instead, they are like husks that the wind blows away. (5) That is why wicked people will not be able to stand in the judgment and sinners will not be able to stand where righteous people gather. (6) The LORD knows the way of righteous people, but the way of wicked people will end.

I noticed a little while ago that a few kids are saying that there is no way that God asks us to only think about Him and pray to Him and read our Bibles.

It's true that it's unrealistic for leaders/pastors/etc. to expect that of anyone, but ideally, that IS what God asks from us. He wants our total devotion. The Psalmist describes a man who "delights in the teaching of the LORD and reflects on his teachings day and night."

This is who we're supposed to desire to be. We are called to seek to be Christ-like in all that we do. Our thoughts, words, and actions need to be glorifying to God. Our focus should be on Him at all times.

The funny thing is, if we can manage to do this (which is a hard thing and is only accomplished when we fight past our flesh, and even then it's easy to slip up), you start to notice that the temptations that come into your life are suddenly easier to walk away from.

Being in a car or room with your girlfriend/boyfriend alone becomes a little uncomfortable. That music on the radio starts to seem a little obscene and dirty and, rather than just turning it down when curse words come on, you feel like turning it off.

God wants to be first in our lives. Yes, we fail and we make mistakes and we get distracted. But, more often than that, we deliberately put Him on the sidelines. We think 'oh I went to youth tonight, I don't have to read, worship, and pray tonight. I got my fill.' And the next night it's a little easier to just skip out on it, and soon it's a fight to get into the Word and to pray and worship on our own.

But that's not how it has to be. We can think only on Him, pray to Him without ceasing (1 Thes. 5:17), and reflect on His Word day and night.

It's hard but it's not impossible, so be encouraged!!

-Brittinni