Jesus welcomed the people, taught them about the Kingdom of God and healed those in need. Luke 9:11
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Seeds of the Kingdom

Focus

by Anne Lawrence

I am the Lord and there is no other; I form the light and create the darkness, I make peace and create calamity; I, the Lord, do all these things.
Isaiah 45:6b-7, NIV

When we focus on our problems isn`t it amazing how big they become?

Paul and I lived in Sheffield for a period of time. Sheffield is very hilly. On my way to work, I would get off the tram and then walk the final way taking a short cut which involved a very steep hill. As winter came and it became icy, this steep path became more of a challenge. After a while I noticed that when I looked down at the path I would get slower and slower, as I focussed on the ice and the steepness of the path. However, I noticed that if I looked up, I would walk faster, as I was not focussing on the danger, but the blue sky and what was around me. I would almost forget about the ice on the path,
and walk with greater boldness.

The Lord then showed me that that is what we’re like in life. When we focus on the problem or danger ahead, the problem becomes bigger and bigger, and we get more fearful or burdened by it as it gets bigger and bigger in our view. Our eyes are down on the problem and He’s not in our view. However, if we lift our gaze up and look at the Lord, He becomes bigger, and more in focus, and the problem is in the right perspective to Him and His majesty and power, and it then becomes smaller.

So the answer is to keep our eyes fixed on Him, the creator and sustainer of all things. He can move mountains and make a way where there is no way. Focusing on Him gives us hope, and our hearts become open to His solutions.

So whatever we’re facing, let’s choose to focus on the Lord. He’s bigger than any problem we can experience.

Prayer: Thank You, Lord, that You’re the one who holds all things in Your hands, and You have all the solutions. I’m sorry for focussing on my problems rather than on You. Help me to keep looking at You and allowing You to work Your solutions into my every situation. Amen.

Anne Lawrence joined the team at Ellel Grange in 2010 and is the Deputy Centre Director. She is married to Paul, Centre Director. Anne previously worked in education. Her last post was CEO of a College in Dublin. She has written courses, syllabi and a book for the English for Work series published by Longman. She has a heart for the broken and a passion to see people set free and released into more of what the Lord has for them. She loves to teach, listen, worship and create things.

 

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