Inside Voiceنموونە

Change Your Focus

Paul had amazing resilience. He had been through so much trauma and persecution and yet he was able to pick himself up, focus on Jesus and rejoice.  He could see God in the situation and how he was advancing his kingdom.

Contrast Paul rejoicing in prison with Elijah in 1 Kings 19:1-18.  Both were facing persecution and possible death.  Elijah’s exhausted, depressed response was ‘take away my life, I’ve had enough.’, but God challenges Elijah’s negative perspective. Where Elijah moaned, ‘I’m the only one left’, God corrected - no, there are 7,000 true to Yahweh!  He told Elijah what to do to get motivated and sent him support in the person of Elisha. Elijah had been focusing on the circumstances from his perspective and Jezebel’s threat, becoming depressed.  

Paul was focused on God’s perspective and so he rejoiced that the gospel was prospering!  He persevered because his focus was fixed on the things above. Paul also had very good support and community around him from his brothers and sisters in Christ. This really goes to show that we cope better with support, in community, and God knows this about us.

We have very challenging circumstances now with Covid, but where is our focus? Can we see God moving on the earth and working all things for good, even in the most desperate circumstances? 

Have the lockdowns given you more time with God as there are far fewer demands on your schedule?  Has it driven you to prayer?  Shaken any complacency out of you? Are you able to form strong bonds with other believers despite the lockdown limitations and strengthen each other in faith?

Questions:

1. How have you really been in this season?  Are you struggling to feel thankful?  Are you finding new things to be thankful for?  

2. What’s one thing that can you do to move closer to Jesus and the body of Christ?