Narrow Your Focus

 

By Andrea Merrell

Set your mind on the things above, 

not on the things that are on earth.

Colossians 3:2 NASB 1995

The woman was stressed, frustrated, and completely burned out. Unable to say no, she had committed herself to so many projects, she could never keep up. She had spread herself so thin, she wasn’t doing anything well.

“You’re trying to do too much,” the counselor said to the distraught woman. “You need to cut some things from your life and narrow your focus.”

Every one of us is looking for a positive focus. Many find their identity in what they accomplish or acquire. It might be a job, a sport, or a hobby. It could be a child or other family member. It might mean working too hard or volunteering for every project that presents itself. Or it could simply mean trying to please one’s self above all else.

The truth is God planted that longing in the human heart, and He is the only One who can fully satisfy it. The Bible tells us to set our minds on things above, not on earthly things. That’s where our main focus should always be. You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you! (Isaiah 26:3 NLT).

When we put God first and take delight in Him, He promises to give us the desires of our heart (Psalm 37:4). Satisfaction. Peace, The desires of our heart. Sounds like a pretty good deal to me. How about you?

Do you need to narrow your focus?

Photo by Donald Teel on Unsplash

Are You in Alignment?

 

By Andrea Merrell

Present your bodies a living sacrifice …

Be transformed by the renewing of your mind.

Romans 12:2 NKJV

 

The car was so far out of alignment that it constantly pulled to one side, making it hard to stay on the road. It finally became undriveable and had to be put in the repair shop.

We can be just like that car, out of kilter, pulling one way or another, making it hard to stay on that straight and narrow path.

What do we do when this happens?

Romans tells us to offer ourselves as living sacrifices and to be transformed by renewing our minds. But how do we do that? The Message translation makes it clear and plain:

So here’s what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life—your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life—and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him. Don’t become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You’ll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what he wants from you, and quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you.

The key is fixing our attention on the Lord. Hiding His Word in our hearts. Putting on the mind of Christ. Bringing our thoughts, words, and actions into agreement with His.

Romans 8:6 says that “to be spiritually minded is life and peace” (KJV). It’s a matter of allowing the Spirit of God to control our thought life and bring our soul into agreement with our spirit. 

That's how we stay in perfect alignment.

   

Photo by Edz Norton on Unsplash

             

The Big Picture

 

By Andrea Merrell

And we know that all things work together 

for good to those who love God,

to those who are the called according to His purpose.

Romans 8:28 NKJV

 

With the edges firmly in place, we went to work on the inner portion of the puzzle. With so much similarity in colors and all the oddly shaped pieces, it turned out to be quite the challenge. Just when we thought we had it mastered, something didn’t quite fit.

Jigsaw puzzles have been around since the 1700s and come in a variety of shapes, colors, and sizes. The key to putting them together—and many times the only way to keep our sanity— is an occasional glance at the picture on the top of the box.

Our life is much like one of those puzzles, especially when the pieces don’t seem to fit together and we have no picture to go by.

The good news for us is that God already sees and knows the big picture, and He lovingly and methodically puts the pieces in place as we learn to trust Him. In the same way we can’t force the puzzle together, we can’t force portions of our life to line up the way we want them to when God has other plans. When we try to make it happen, the picture gets distorted.

We’re all familiar with the Scripture about all things working together for good (Romans 8:28), but I love the way the Passion translation explains it:

So we are convinced that every detail of our lives is continually woven together for good, for we are his lovers who have been called to fulfill his designed purpose. For he knew all about us before we were born and he destined us from the beginning to share the likeness of his Son.

The big picture for us is being conformed to the image and likeness of our Lord and Savior Jesus, and only the Father knows what that looks like for each of us.

Trust Him to put all the pieces—even the broken and ragged ones—of your life together. The results will be amazing, and you won’t be disappointed.

Photo by Hans-Peter Gauster on Unsplash

 

Pulling Down Strongholds

 

By Andrea Merrell

For the weapons of our warfare are not physical

[weapons of flesh and blood], but they are mighty before God

for the overthrow and destruction of strongholds.

2 Corinthians 10:4 AMPC

Do you have a stronghold in your life? I’ve certainly had a few.

Merriam-Webster’s describes stronghold as something fortified. In the Christian’s life, it can be anything that exalts itself against the knowledge—and the Word—of God, our ultimate truth.

Many times we receive wrong teaching that goes against that truth. It could be a conviction, a belief, or a habit. According to The Word for You Today, these are some of the most common strongholds we deal with:

• Guilt – God could never forgive me.
• Resentment – I could never forgive that person.
• Self-pity – Bad things always happen to me.
• Pride – I have to be in charge.
• Rejection – I don’t deserve to be loved.
• Defeat – I’ll never recover.
• Performance – I must be good or God will reject me.
• Appearance – I’m only as good as I look.
• Materialism – My value equals my possessions.

The good news is God never intended for us to live under these false premises. Strongholds are meant to be broken, and He has given us the tools: His Word, prayer, fasting, the name of Jesus, the blood of Jesus, and His very own weapons of warfare (see Ephesians 6).

Don’t allow strongholds to keep you imprisoned in a state of perpetual frustration and even depression. Use God’s mighty weapons to overthrow, destroy, and completely obliterate them.

Photo by Daria Lyalyulina on Unsplash

Finding Your True Self

 

By Andrea Merrell

 

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation;

old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.

2 Corinthians 5:17 NKJV

 

My friend and I were discussing the past, which brought up a plethora of memories—many good, others not so much.

I thought about the struggles I faced in those earlier years with fear. Low self-esteem. Anger. Trying desperately to fit in. I was, as they say, a hot mess.

Fortunately, I hardly recognize that person any longer. In a way, it’s like she never existed. It’s hard to look back and try to remember her at all because so much has changed.

The Bible explains it as becoming a new creation in Christ. The old passes away, and everything becomes new. The Passion translation puts it like this:

Now, if anyone is enfolded into Christ, he has become an entirely new person. All that is related to the old order has vanished. Behold, everything is fresh and new.

During those rough years, I had no clue who I was. I constantly searched for my identity, my true self. And it was only found when I realized who I am in Christ. How He sees me. What He says about me in His Word. Once I surrendered completely to Him, my life changed dramatically and I became, just as the Bible says, an entirely new person.

If you’re searching to find your true self, stop looking in all the wrong places. Your worth, your identity, and all that you were created to be is found only in Christ.

Photo by Giulia Bertelli on Unsplash

A Good Work Ethic

 

By Andrea Merrell

And whatever you do, do it heartily, 

as to the Lord and not to men.

Colossians 3:23 NKJV

“You want me to do what?” the woman exclaimed with a shocked look on her face. “That’s way beneath my pay grade—and beneath me!”

To solve the problem, the boss jumped in and cleaned up the mess.

Then he fired the woman.

Finding those with a good work ethic is getting harder in today’s society where the new generations seem to be born with entitlement issues, expecting to have everything handed to them. Many think work is beneath them.

But God created work right after He created man. He delighted in His creation, then gave him the responsibility of tending the garden.

According to The Word for You Today, “Work gives us a sense of purpose, meaning, and dignity. There are no small jobs, only people who perceive them as small and become small in doing them.”

The woman thought she was too good to do menial tasks, and her pride cost her a high-paying job.

What is the key to building and maintaining a good work ethic? Doing the very best job we can and doing it as unto the Lord—for His approval alone.

Someone once said, “Every job is a self-portrait of the person who does it. Autograph your work with excellence.”

Photo by Merakist on Unsplash

Take Up Your Sword

 

By Andrea Merrell

And take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit,

which is the Word of God.

Ephesians 6:17 AMP

“On guard!” the man shouted. Instantly, two swords sliced through the air as the crowd watched in anticipation.

Fencing has always fascinated me, especially watching those who are proficient in the sport and precise in their movements. One well-placed jab can take out the opponent.

Even though I enjoy being a spectator, I’ve never had the slightest desire to try it myself. My only desire is to learn to take up “the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God”—the most powerful weapon in both heaven and earth.

Hebrews 4:12-13 in the Message translation explains it this way:

God means what he says. What he says goes. His powerful Word is sharp as a surgeon’s scalpel, cutting through everything, whether doubt or defense, laying us open to listen and obey. Nothing and no one can resist God’s Word. We can’t get away from it—no matter what.

Just as an opponent can be taken out with a natural sword, we are meant to take out our Enemy with the Sword of the Spirit. Jesus defeated him in the desert with the words “It is written …” 

We can do the same.

Pick up your sword every day and keep it sharp.

Photo by Lance Reis on Unsplash

Feed Your Faith

 

By Andrea Merrell

So then faith comes by hearing, 

and hearing by the word of God.

Romans 10:17 NKJV

“You gotta have faith!” the speaker said emphatically. “You must believe that God will do what He says He will do.”

Afterward, my friend said to me, “Sometimes I don’t think I have any faith at all. My doubts seem to choke out what little is in me. What should I do?”

“Feed it,” I said.

She frowned. “And how exactly do I do that?”

The Bible tells us that faith comes by hearing. By hearing what? God’s Word. One of my former pastors used to say, “Faith comes by hearing, and hearing, and hearing.”

We believe what we hear from friends and family. Even podcasts and news reports. The more we hear, the more encouraged—or discouraged—we become. It’s the same with the Word. The more we hear it, the more we believe it, and the greater our faith grows.

But listening to a sermon once or twice a week (or even less) will never be enough. Just like we feed our body, we need to feed our faith. And since we believe what we say most of all, the more we speak and confess the Word, the more our faith will flourish.

My friend finally got it. She began to put the Word in her mind, her mouth, her ears, and her heart. The transformation was amazing.

If you deal with doubt and unbelief, there’s only one sure cure: start feeding your faith a regular diet of the powerful, life-changing Word of God.

Photo by Alex Shute on Unsplash

Don’t Believe Everything You See and Hear

 

By Andrea Merrell

Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits,

whether they are of God; because many false prophets

have gone out into the world.

1 John 4:1 NKJV

 

I got excited when Facebook started posting new movies coming out, all with some of my favorite actors. I made a list so I wouldn’t miss any of them.

Then I found out all the posts were AI generated. Bogus. Untrue. Fake. A scam.

There was a heartwarming post that almost made me cry—until I saw that exact same scenario with different people in different settings.

Again … bogus.

In this day of modern technology, folks can post whatever they want, whenever they want, to try and make us believe whatever they want us to believe. It’s nothing more than deceit and manipulation—sometimes for monetary gain, sometimes just for no reason.

The Devil works in the same way, twisting things around to try and make us embrace a lie. The Bible calls him the father of lies. He will package things in a way to make us think they are true, lovely, and desirable.

The Bible tells us to “test the spirits.” How do we do that? The Message translation explains it like this: “Don’t believe everything you hear. Carefully weigh and examine what people tell you.”

Don’t be gullible or mislead by what is false. Pray. Seek guidance from the Holy Spirit. Use discernment. And make sure what you embrace lines up with God’s Word.

Photo by Hartono Creative Studio on Unsplash.

Busy, Busy, Busy

 

By Andrea Merrell

But Martha was distracted with much serving.

Luke 10:40 NKJV

“You sure are a busy little beaver,” someone once said to me. “You never seem to stop or even slow down.”

I’m not sure what point she was trying to make, but I’ve thought about her observation a lot over the years—especially when I get caught up in the busyness of life.

Certainly, life can be demanding at times, pulling us in so many directions we don’t know which to follow first. There’s always so much to do. But during those seasons, maybe we should stop and ask ourselves, In all my doing, what have I really accomplished?

One writer says we were created by God to live on purpose, for a purpose. He didn’t put us on this earth to exhaust ourselves and end up empty and unfulfilled. No matter how we spend our time, we are called to bear fruit. To be salt and light. To love and be loved. To point others to Him. To become more like Jesus.

I love the times when I can look back over my day and feel a sense of accomplishment and even pride over being productive. But I’ve learned that sometimes my most productive days are those when I spend quality time with the Lord, praying, digging into His Word, writing a devotion, or encouraging a friend. It might mean taking a break from being busy, busy, busy, resting and taking time to seek His face and hear His voice, especially before I plunge headlong into my day.

In the story of Mary and Martha, Martha was only concerned about all she had to do. I can picture her flitting about, cooking, cleaning, and complaining. Her biggest complaint was that her sister Mary was not helping. Instead, Mary was content to sit at the feet of Jesus.

That’s where I choose to be. How about you?

 Photo by Dan Freeman on Unsplash

Is He Lord or Not?

 

By Andrea Merrell

 

Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
And lean not on your own understanding;
In all your ways acknowledge Him,
And He shall direct your paths.

Proverbs 3:5-6 NKJV

 

“Why are you talking about God?” my friend asked. “This is real life, not church. What’s He got to do with anything?”

Without hesitation I said, “Actually, He’s got to do with everything—especially for the born-again believer.”

The conversation happened many years ago, but I remember it well. It was the classic case of secular versus sacred. As far as she was concerned, God was relegated to church and the Bible, nothing more.

I once heard a man say, “If you give God an inch, He’ll take more than a mile.” He believed if you give God certain parts of your life and heart, He will only want more. This man was not willing to surrender even that tiny inch.

What I’ve learned over the years is that if He’s not Lord over every single area of my life—including my thoughts, words, actions, habits, relationships, possessions—He’s not Lord over me at all.

God wants us to trust in Him with our whole heart, not just a small part of it. He promises that if we acknowledge Him in all our ways, He will direct us and make our paths straight.

I don’t know about you, but I need God involved in every area and in every moment of my life. I’ll gladly give Him that inch and ask Him to take all the rest. I’m all in.

How about you?

Photo by Miriam G on Unsplash

Law or Grace?

 

Law or Grace?

By Andrea Merrell

For the person who keeps all of the laws except one

is as guilty as a person who has broken all of God’s laws.

James 2:10 NLT

“We are no longer living under the Old Testament law but under grace,” the man said, yet his actions did not line up with his words. His attempts to keep parts of the law kept setting him up for failure. He became a slave to the law, afraid to make a mistake.

Someone once compared the law to an x-ray machine and a mirror that can show you what lies deep inside or what you need to do on the outside, but they can’t do it for you. They can’t fix things or solve your problems. In fact, the only thing the law will do for you is bring on discouragement and condemnation because when we live under the law and mess up on one little part, we are, according to James, guilty of it all.

The good news for us is found in Romans 8:3 (NLT):

The law of Moses was unable to save us because of the weakness of our sinful nature. So God did what the law could not do. He sent his own Son in a body like the bodies we sinners have. And in that body God declared an end to sin’s control over us by giving his Son as a sacrifice for our sins. (NLT)

That’s grace! Jesus fulfilled and satisfied all the requirements of the law through His sacrifice. As born-again believers who live under the dispensation of grace, we are free to follow the Spirit of God rather than the letter of the law—a bunch of unrealistic and unattainable rules and regulations.

Paul goes on in Romans to say

So you have not received a spirit that makes you fearful slaves. Instead, you received God’s Spirit when he adopted you as his own children. Now we call him, “Abba, Father.” For his Spirit joins with our spirit to affirm that we are God’s children. And since we are his children, we are his heirs. In fact, together with Christ we are heirs of God’s glory. (8:15-17)

Abba Father, thank you for setting us free from the law of sin and death and adopting us as your children. Thank you for your grace as we follow after your Spirit. Amen!

Photo by Alex Shute on Unsplash

Get Rid of the Rocks

 

By Andrea Merrell

It is impossible that no offenses should come.

Luke 17:1 NKJV

There it was. Again. The truth hit me like a bullet aimed straight at my heart.

I thought I had dealt with a certain situation, but when the offending party’s name came up, all those old, resentful feelings resurfaced.

God’s conviction and correction came as no surprise because my pastor had been teaching on the subject. He explained that we will all have the opportunity to be offended. More often than not, we will have many opportunities. He also said that when we pick up an offense, it’s like picking up a handful of rocks and carrying them around.

Jesus said that in order to be His disciple, we must pick up our cross and follow Him (Mark 8:34). When we pick up our cross, it simply means we are following Jesus’ example. And as my pastor said, we can’t carry our cross and rocks at the same time.

Offense leads to anger. Anger leads to resentment. And resentment leads to bitterness. When a root of bitterness takes hold, it’s like a deadly poison that corrupts everything it touches.

We cannot keep offenses from coming our way, but we can choose whether to take them on or not. Let’s get rid of the rocks so we can joyfully carry the cross of Christ.

 

Photo by Oliver Paaske on Unsplash

Are You Reactive or Proactive?

By Andrea Merrell

How wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ.

Ephesians 3:18 NIV

“I’m having a really hard time with my son,” the woman told her counselor. “He can be such a good boy at times, but when he’s acting out, I have a hard time loving him.”

I can relate to her story. When I was growing up, my grandfather was kind and gentle with me as long as my behavior was perfect—at least in his eyes. When my words and actions failed to line up with his expectations, he became harsh and critical. I always felt I had to earn my way back into his good graces—and his love.

Not so with our heavenly father. He loves us with a love that far surpasses our human comprehension. There are no conditions and nothing that can make Him love us less or more. His agape love is perfect and eternal. Nothing can diminish it or take it from us.

Is it possible for us to love others the same way? The Word for You Today says:

It’s easy to love others when they are at their best. But when they are at their worst? Not so much. But that’s the test of true love. Our love tends to be reactive, but God’s love is proactive. He loves us when we least expect it and least deserve it.

One of my former pastors used to say, “Love acts, it does not react.” That means we have a choice every single moment of every single day to act (respond) to others in the way we should instead of reacting out of pride, selfishness, anger, or frustration. That’s being proactive.

Paul tells us in Romans that “God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us” (5:5 NIV). In other words, we have an abundant supply of God's love to give away.

Are you walking in love?

                            

 Photo courtesy of Unsplash.com and Kelly Sikkema.