Keep Focused. Don’t Quit!:
Friends, what is the centre of your life?
What grabs your attention?
What do you focus on?
Do you only concentrate on the hard knocks?
The rough-and-tumble in life?
Now listen, in God’s Word, the apostle Paul gave instructions which explained – those things should not be our main focus.
Let’s pay attention to what he wrote.
Personally, I love how the Message paraphrased version puts it.
Here goes:
“Summing it all up, friends, I’d say you’ll do best by filling your minds and meditating on things true, noble, reputable, authentic, compelling, gracious – the best, not the worst; the beautiful, not the ugly; things to praise, not things to curse.”1.
Sure-enough, life at times can be a struggle, and problems can appear to be endless!
Yes, that’s right. Life can be tough!
But, remember Paul’s words to the congregation in Corinth – where he shared a clear revelation:
“So we’re not giving up.
How could we!
Even though on the outside it often looks like things are falling apart on us, on the inside, where God is making new life, not a day goes by without His unfolding grace.
These hard times are small potatoes compared to the coming good times, the lavish celebration prepared for us.
There’s far more here than meets the eye.
The things we see now are here today, gone tomorrow.
But the things we can’t see now will last forever.”2.
What a great way to think about life!
Still, possibly you’re tussling, struggling to hold on to your hopes and expectations.
In truth, life has drained you of energy and effectiveness!
You have difficulties at work, personal balance-of-payments problems, ruined relationships.
Disappointments, dashed hopes, broken dreams.
There’s no doubt about it, you’re in deep water!
Day-in, day-out, you constantly chew over if things will ever get better.
You are more than ready to quit!
Feeling disheartened; you pray, “O God, let this be a genuine mistake. Let me wake from this dreadful nightmare. Please!”
Then, in the midst of your struggles, along comes the God of hope saying, “I still have a plan for you.
It’s not over till I say so.
I’m going to turn things around for you.
Your best days are ahead.”3.
For this reason, keep focused.
Don’t quit!
Amen? Amen!
1 Philippians 4:8
2 2 Corinthians 4:16-18
3 Jeremiah 29:11