Just thinking about my outlook on life. I need to bring in into better alignment with God's plan for my life, I believe. I find myself wishing that I could restore the past--health, physique, mental acuity, even relationships--when I should be looking forward and focusing on the spiritual.
Perhaps it relates to being 40 this year. It is most likely that most of my earthly life has been lived. I feel, sometimes, like I am now batting cleanup. Certainly, I have not done all that I'd set out to, or hoped to, or could have done. And with my current (meaning during the periodic funk in which I find myself) outlook, that frustrates me. I know that I need to adjust my thinking (take every thought captive)--I know that God has led my life and He has given me blessings beyond number and still has purpose and blessings in store.
When I consider the past 40 years, I am overwhelmed with all He has done. I need to appreciate that more and stop focusing on how little I have done. How silly am I to compare my achievements with His?? Duh. Of course, I am not really. I am comparing what I have accomplished with what I think He wanted me to accomplish. But again, I will decide to humble myself and submit to His judgement, not my own.
I am coming off a week-long cold which has added to the foggy thinking. Rejoice in the Lord with me, my friends, for He has done great things! I woke up singing the First Song of Isaiah (tune by Jack Noble White). It is a great song to 'put on' in the morning before facing the day's warfare.
Chorus:Surely it is God who saves me;
I will trust in him and not be afraid.
For the Lord is my stronghold and my sure defense,
and he will be my Savior.
V1Therefore you shall draw water with rejoicing
from the springs of salvation.
And on that day you shall say,
give thanks to the Lord and call upon his name.
V2Make his deeds known among the peoples;
see that they remember that his name is exalted.
Sing the praises of the Lord, for he has done great things,
and this is known in all the world.
V3Cry aloud, inhabitants of Zion; ring out your joy,
for the great one in the midst of you is the Holy One
of Israel.
My meditation verse for the week (1 Tim 4:8--with parts from v7)...
Train yourself to be godly. For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and for the life to come.
...leads to this prayer
Lord, help me to have a godly perspective. Help me to want to have a godly perspective and to strip away everything else. Thank you for the blessings of this life and the promise of the life to come. Show me the way, and help me to follow. In Jesus' name, Amen.
