what we Focus ON

What We Focus On Grows {Where Is Your Focus?}

I remember sitting in a Sunday evening service, over a decade ago, and watching the couple in front of me worship. Together this couple sang with their hands lifted high in abandon to God.  Their worship was beautiful and in that moment blessed me.

Now let’s fast forward to a decade later. Since then, the wife has given birth to a baby with down syndrome.  After this, they discovered the husband had a debilitating disease that would lead to him being in a wheel chair and needing full care.  This couple shined with the joy of the Lord through this dark time, despite the trials they were facing.  Then sadly, the husband lost his battle to his disease and passed away.

A few Sundays ago, this same woman — who I watched a decade ago worship with her husband — was a few rows in front of me.  This time she stood with her special needs daughter beside her and both of them sang with their hands lifted high to the Lord.

Beautiful.

She’s still praising and giving thanks to the Lord, despite the decade of trials I have watched her go through from afar.

Oh that we would continue praising, continue trusting, continue singing and continue giving thanks to God through the ups and downs of life.

I have not faced anything near as hard as this mom has faced.  Her strength to continue to sing and give thanks to God, encourages me.

C.H. Spurgeon said,

“too many people write their blessings in the sand but their sorrows in marble.”

It is so easy to list all of our sorrows and troubles in our lives rather than our blessings.

What we focus on grows.  Where is your focus?

If we focus on our troubles – it will grow.

Recently I had something really eating at me.  I thought and thought about it and the more I thought about it – the bigger it grew in my head. Then I talked with someone about it and after hearing my own words out loud – I felt kind of stupid. I couldn’t believe I had made it such a big deal in my mind.  It’s like this problem had mushroomed in my mind beyond what it really was in real life.

Have you done this before?  Please say I’m not alone! Lol!

What we focus on grows.  Where is your focus?

The minute I was busy doing other things and started thinking a different set of thoughts – this problem shrunk back to it’s real size and I got over it.

Colossians 3:15 & 16 says:

15 And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful.

16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.

Peace.

Be thankful.

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly.

Sing psalms.

Sing hymns.

Sing spiritual songs.

With what?

Thankfulness in your heart to God.

Last month, the Making Your Home a Haven Series, was all about pursuing peace in our hearts and homes.  Here we see in scripture – peace and thankfulness and singing praises to God –  are all best friends.  They belong together.

When we sing songs to the Lord, our peace grows.

When we give thanks, a grateful heart grows.

We we study God’s word, our thankfulness to Christ grows.

So this week’s challenge is a repeat:

Light your candle daily in your home and each time the flicker catches your eye, give thanks to God for an ordinary thing in your life.  

Add to the candle some praise music – or if you’re like me – some Christmas music!  It’s time friends!  Praising and thanking God will drown out our sorrows.  

What we focus on grows.  Where is your focus?

If we focus on our troubles – they will grow like a mushroom.

If we focus on giving thanks – we will have merry hearts despite our troubles.

Continue to be intentional this week in your home.

Walk with the King,

Courtney

**CHIME IN**

Let’s continue listing 5 ORDINARY things we are thankful for.  If you haven’t shared yet – join us!  If you have – come add more to the list in the comment section.

Have you started listening to Christmas music? Which album is your favorite?I just bought Chris Tomlin’s newest Christmas Album titled “Adore” last week!