Live With Eternal Perspective Podcast Episode 076 Direct Your Focus
Welcome to the Terri Hitt – Live With Eternal Perspective Podcast
Episode #076 – Direct Your Focus
Last week I shared that my family is experiencing a difficult season. How I detest times like this, yet appreciate them at the same time. Why? Because I have lived long enough to know that the hardest times have stretched me beyond where I would cause my feet to travel.
Jesus has carried me through the worst and the best moments in my life. While it would be amazing to live a perfectly happy life with no difficulties, the honest truth of this fallen world is that we are all alike. We will never find perfection. Life will continue to deliver painful blows. We are blessed when we recognize and remember that God already goes before us.
Deuteronomy 1:30-31 says, “The Lord your God, who goes before you, will fight for you, just as you saw Him do for you in Egypt and in the wilderness, where the Lord your God carried you, as a man carries his son, all the way by which you traveled until you reached this place.”
Oh, how I love the Lord!
His ways are timeless! He is good. Intentionally place your full trust in Him. Direct your gaze Upward in every moment of life; not just when you think you need Him.
I saw a Facebook post this week that reminds me of this truth. A mother was sending her child off to begin her life of “adulthood” and her heart is feeling multiple emotions! Understandably so. But the words that caught my attention were when she said that she prayed she had prepared her child enough for this world and that she guessed it was in God’s hands now.
I am not singling out or judging what this mom spoke from her heart. Yet, as a follower of Christ who deeply desires to live in ways that honor God moment by moment and to always direct others to Jesus, I want to point out the fact that we must shift our thought process.
Every moment of our life should already be in God’s hands.
We should strive to grow so close to Him that our heart and mind are attuned to what the Father is calling us to submit to and release to Him moment by moment. We must seek to humble ourselves and submit to the Spirit within us, purposely allowing Christ to reign in our hearts and minds to eradicate self, more and more.
How do we do this? The methods of a strong and maturing relationship with God through Jesus are basic. The difficulty comes in intentionally pursuing Him with a passionate mix of trust, hope, love, and faith that comes from seeking Him despite feelings and desires that get in the way and blind us to His truths.
For example, if we feel far from God, or that He has abandoned us, that means we must draw nearer to Him. James 4:8 says, “Come close to God, and God will come close to you. Wash your hands, you sinners; purify your hearts, for your loyalty is divided between God and the world.”
Never rely on feelings or thoughts, emotions or desires to direct your walk with Jesus. Psalm 73:28 says, “But as for me, it is good to draw near to God. I have made the Lord God my refuge, that I may proclaim all Your works.”
Good Father, It is the prayer of my heart that every unpleasant moment or hardship I experience on this earth will do nothing but draw me ever nearer to You. I pray that is the same for each listener and for our loved ones. May we inhale the Spirit with every difficulty and exhale Jesus for all to experience and capture the delight and joy of the Lord. For You are good, despite our circumstances and pain, feelings or emotions. Help us to remember to draw near to You so that You will draw nearer to us. May we always be mindful that You are always a step ahead, providing the means for us to thrive in this world if we only place our constant hope and trust in You. In Your precious name we pray and plead. Amen.
As I continue to rest in the Lord through this season, I want to mention a few of the past “Live With Eternal Perspective” podcast episodes you may find helpful.
Where are you right now? Are you ready to:
Submit Your Heart? Episode 1 – Heart Conditions
Protect Your Thoughts? Episode 2 – Protecting Our thoughts
Strive for Obedience? Episode 3 – Obedience
Prepare your child or grandchild to live for Him? Episode 7 – Equipping Children
Submit emotions? Episode 38 – Who Master’s My Emotions
As I continue to rest in the Spirit within and know that He has good plans for me and my family that will not harm us, but will bring us ever closer to Him, I will continue to encourage and equip you to find your rest in and through Jesus, as well. May our spirits ever long for Him and marvel at the ways He provides all we need, especially as we submit each moment into His capable hands. We don’t have to understand or agree with His ways, but we must purposely know Him so that we will willingly trust Him. Thank you, Jesus, for all You are and allow.
This week I pray you find new ways to rest in Him and cause yourself to cling to Him in deeper ways that test your faith and understanding. Allow Him to bring you to a new level of trust and abandonment of self.
Please visit terrihitt.com to access podcast episodes housed in one convenient location, read blog posts, transcripts, and access additional resources designed to mature your walk with Jesus through an eternal perspective and encourage you to raise or influence children to choose Christ over culture as You rely on God to direct your steps.
I pray this podcast draws you nearer to the Lord and helps you cling to Him, despite any circumstances in your life. Until next week, keep looking Up while focusing on new ways to Live With Eternal Perspective.