Best of Intentions

Set your mind on things above, not on earthly things.  (Colossians 3:2)

I had the best of intentions this last week.  I started the week intending to pray more, to be less distracted, and more engaged in Christ.  I started out with my eyes fixed on Jesus.  Then the week progressed with bad news after bad news.  Each time it was like I was experiencing a gut punch.  You know… one of those punches that leave you breathless and wondering what just happened.  Yes, that’s the only way I can explain it.

By Thursday, I was wore out physically, emotionally, and spiritually.  I had lost sight of what my week was supposed to be about.  I had placed my eyes on the circumstances and I became overwhelmed by them.  I was defeated by my own perspective.  I made a choice to take my eyes off of Jesus and place them on my storms.  For the record, this is never a good idea!

On Friday, I got to thinking why am I so wore out?  The Holy Spirit started to convict me that I had taken my eyes off of Jesus.  I placed my problems on the throne and dethroned God.  I didn’t do it on purpose, but slowly one decision at a time I gave the throne of my heart over to my problems.  Well, by Friday night I had enough of this.  I broke down in tears asking the Lord for forgiveness.  I didn’t want to allow my problems to be bigger than God any longer.

I felt refreshed, renewed, and reinvigorated.  The place I should have been all week.  Then Saturday rolled around…  That morning I received the biggest gut punch of the week.  But this time I wasn’t breathless, I wasn’t bewildered, dumbfounded, or grasping at straws to survive.  I had my eyes fixed on Jesus.  God gave me the ability to offer grace in what could have been the straw that broke the camel’s back.  God breathed life into me through the situation and helped me see that He truly is on the throne.  Nothing is beyond His control.  He is the Lord of my heart, the Lord of my circumstances, and forever He will reign!

I plan to do better this week and spend a little more time with my eyes fixed on the only One who should ever occupy the throne of my heart!

In God’s Grip of Grace,