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Better Focus

The story of the prodigal son didn’t end with the young son coming home, it continues by talking about the other son who stayed home. This son had some heart issues going on. And I think a lot of us can easily be like this older one.

The enemy wants to destroy your relationship with God, even if you 'stay home', even if you're at the 'right place' it doesn't mean you're in the right place within yourself or your faith. If the devil can't get you out of the church, out of the bible, out of prayer, he’ll try to get your heart out of it and make your faith stale.

Mark 15:25-

“Meanwhile, the older son was in the fields working. When he returned home, he heard music and dancing in the house, and he asked one of the servants what was going on. ‘Your brother is back,’ he was told, ‘and your father has killed the fattened calf. We are celebrating because of his safe return.’ The older brother was angry and wouldn’t go in. His father came out and begged him, but he replied, ‘All these years I’ve slaved for you and never once refused to do a single thing you told me to [familiarity makes you feel entitled]. And in all that time you never gave me even one young goat for a feast with my friends. Yet when this son of yours comes back after squandering your money on prostitutes, you celebrate by killing the fattened calf!’ His father said to him, ‘Look, dear son, you have always stayed by me, and everything I have is yours. We had to celebrate this happy day. For your brother was dead and has come back to life! He was lost, but now he is found!’”

For the brother, nothing had changed. He would still receive an inheritance but the way he must have seen things is an example to us of the difference between praise and blame: your focus. The difference between cheerful and fearful is often a matter of focus. The brother was stale, it wasn’t anyone else’s fault, he was the one controlling the thermostat of joy here, and by focusing on what the brother did rather than his return, the older brother missed out on what was far more important.

Question 1: Is your default focus pessimistic or optimistic?
Question 2: What habits could you introduce or change to ensure your faith doesn't become stale?