Read: Ephesians 3:14–21
Watch: Who is God?
Mighty Inner Strength
Do you ever just get tired of trying? You have worked so hard. You’ve poured immense effort into doing better, giving everything you’ve got to control and manage your circumstances. Are you exhausted from feeling like you’ve been banging your head against a wall? If so, take note: you’ve caused very little damage to the wall, but you’ve certainly given yourself a splitting headache.
The problem is that we tend to start with the problem. We try to change our circumstances by changing our behavior or micromanaging our responses to the world around us.
Stop. Please, stop. You will never change your situation by obsessing over it. In fact, you may actually make things worse. Whatever sits at the center of our attention tends to exert mastery over us; we are simply wired that way.
Instead, “turn your eyes upon Jesus.” Look to Almighty God and set your focus on His Kingdom. Paul wrote, “When I think of the wisdom and scope of God’s plan…” What was the result? He fell to his knees in prayer.
When we shift our attention away from our problems, our circumstances, and the chaos of the world, our perspective transforms. We stop obsessing over our struggles and begin to see through the lens of Christ.
What does Paul pray for? He prays that you would have “mighty inner strength.” Isn’t that what we wanted in the first place? Our mistake was making the problem the focus. The first step—the primary decision and the answer to our struggle—is turning our attention toward God. I know this sounds easy, yet we still find it difficult. That is exactly why we need prayer. We must ask the Father, through the power of the Holy Spirit, for help. This is the path to inner strength. This is the path to peace. This is what our hearts truly desire.
So, where is your attention today? Upon what are you focusing? Are you training yourself to reset your focus on Christ? The challenge we face is also the answer: we must continually turn back to Him. We must seek Jesus and ask for His help, turning our eyes and our hearts to Him again and again.
Pray: Lord, be Thou my vision as I turn my eyes upon Jesus!
Discussion Questions:
- The Practical Reset: Turning our eyes back to Jesus is a “continual” process. What is one practical “trigger” or habit you can use this week to interrupt your worrying and reset your focus on Christ? (e.g., a breath prayer, a specific scripture on your phone lock screen, or a pause before checking email).