Fix Your Eyes...

Colossians 3:2-3 - Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth.  For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 

How often are caught up in life that we let our minds wander away from the things of God?  I know I am guilty quite often, if not at least once every day.  Because our old man died and we have nothing on this earth anymore.  Paul said it in the scripture above.  But we live on this earth and we walk among unbelievers and others that would attempt to derail our walk.  

Philippians 4:8 Whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy - meditate on these things.  

The only way to set your mind on things above is to meditate on the things in Philippians 4:8.  We need to monitor our own thoughts on a daily basis and when our thoughts wander to earthly concerns, worries, or anxieties, we need to make a conscious effort to change our thoughts.  

The bills are due and the money is short.  Instead of worrying about finances, what should our thoughts be?  

Philippians 4:19 - And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

There are so many times we worry about things that are so out of our control...and for most money is the biggest cause of worry.  But what about all the other things in life we can worry about?  Our job security, our children's safety, or any other thousands of little things?

Philippians 4:6-7 - Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

Matthew 6:25-34 - "Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on.  Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing?  Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them.  Are you not of more value than they?  Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature?  So why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?  Therefore do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?'  For after all these things the Gentiles seek.  For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things.  But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you,  Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things.  Sufficient for the day is its own trouble."

Jesus was very clear in the scriptures above.  He stated worrying was pointless.  In fact, He even said "ye of little faith." That says to me that worrying and being anxious about the things God knows we need is an expression of a lack of faith in God's abilities to fulfill His word.  God knows our needs and will supply them.  If we feel ourselves getting anxious about circumstances, then we should re-route our thinking so that it lines up with the Word of God.  We should stand on the Word of God as the rock it is for our lives.  He loves us so much that He considers us more important than the birds of the air or the lilies that grow in the ground. Jesus even said that worrying about clothes, food, shelter does not set us apart from the Gentiles (unbelievers).  And yet, we are called to be separated...to be different from the unbelievers.  

Romans 12:2 - And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. 

Not only are we directed to think on things that are of good report, and to be transformed by the renewing of our mind, but we have been set apart.  

1 Peter 2:9 - But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.  

So...don't worry.  Don't be anxious.  If the above scriptures don't help you, then remember Psalm 46:10 - Be still and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!

God is God.  God is Omniscient.  God is Omnipotent.  God is The Beginning and The End. God is The Alpha and The Omega.  He knows all and sees all.  Nothing takes Him by surprise and He holds all things in His hands.  All things are in His control.  When we make our requests known to God, then His peace (which we cannot understand) will guard our hearts and minds through Christ.  We can only be guarded when we fix our eyes on Him.