Where’s Your Focus?
This is a question all standers should ask themselves regularly. Are you focused on your spouse? Your circumstances….the other person, court date, financial problems, custody battles, loneliness, what others are saying, and on and on. What about your stand for marriage restoration? Are you focused on that? Or are you focused on God? You have probably experienced all of these as what consumes your thoughts at some point.
It’s not unusual to feel like you are on a roller coaster emotionally. You pray, cry out to God, get in the Word, read Charlyne Cares email devotionals and get encouraged and built up. Considering the chaos around you, you are finally starting to feel confident in your stand for restoration. Then something happens. Your spouse is awful to you, you hear a report from a mutual friend about your spouse’s continued involvement with this other person, you find out your spouse is trying to legally remove you from seeing your children, you get a legal bill, eviction notice, or some other thing. It really doesn’t matter what IT is, but something will occur that will once again turn your world upside down and the cycle starts all over again. You cry out to God about the pain of your circumstances, pray, pray, and pray.
But let me remind you, it doesn’t matter what storms are swirling around you when your focus is on God. Consider the story of Peter when Jesus called to him to walk on the water with Him.
Shortly before dawn Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. “It’s a ghost,†they said, and cried out in fear. But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.†“Lord, if it’s you,†Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.†“Come,†he said. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!†Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,†he said, “why did you doubt?†Matthew 14:25-31
It is so easy to get your eyes off Jesus and look at all your problems. This is true not only in your stand for marriage restoration, but when facing any problem life throws your way whether it be a financial crisis, health crisis, or relationship crisis. I think it’s interesting to note that Jesus questioned Peter’s faith and asked about his doubt. When we take our eyes off Jesus and look at our circumstances what we are doing is doubting God. Think about it – it’s like we are saying, “God, I know you created the world, created man from the dust of the earth and everything that lives and breathes, and raised Jesus from the dead, but this problem I’m facing in my marriage, it’s too tough for you to handle.†Whoa! You say you believe God, but do you really? If you do, then trust Him! Forget the circumstances. Forget the chaos and put your focus on God.
Remind yourself how BIG God is.
The Lord Has No Equal Who else has held the oceans in his hand? Who has measured off the heavens with his fingers? Who else knows the weight of the earth or has weighed the mountains and hills on a scale? Who is able to advise the Spirit of the Lord? Who knows enough to give him advice or teach him? Has the Lord ever needed anyone’s advice? Does he need instruction about what is good? Did someone teach him what is right or show him the path of justice? No, for all the nations of the world are but a drop in the bucket. They are nothing more than dust on the scales. He picks up the whole earth as though it were a grain of sand. Isaiah 40:12-15 (NLT)
O Jacob, how can you say the Lord does not see your troubles? O Israel, how can you say God ignores your rights? Have you never heard? Have you never understood? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of all the earth. He never grows weak or weary. No one can measure the depths of his understanding. He gives power to the weak and strength to the powerless. Isaiah 40:27-29 (NLT)
God really is a BIG God! He will restore your marriage, but you have to trust Him. When you get your focus on Him and not all the “stuff†going on in your life, you begin to rise above. When that happens, when your mind and heart are focused totally on God, you will find perfect peace as you wait for Him to do a new work in you, your spouse, and your marriage.
Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. Colossians 3:2
You will keep him in perfect peace, Whose mind is stayed on You, Because he trusts in You. Isaiah 26:3 (NKJV)
Are you focused on God? It’s also possible to become so consumed with the idea of standing for marriage restoration that your focus moves to you and your stand. Remember, God is more concerned about your spouse being restored to Him and you being focused on Him.
So the next time you find your focus wandering off, remind yourself of these truths in God’s Word.
So let’s keep focused on that goal, those of us who want everything God has for us. If any of you have something else in mind, something less than total commitment, God will clear your blurred vision—you’ll see it yet! Now that we’re on the right track, let’s stay on it. Philippians 3: 15-16 (The Message)
Standing in Kentucky,
Josh
This is a question all standers should ask themselves regularly. Are you focused on your spouse? Your circumstances….the other person, court date, financial problems, custody battles, loneliness, what others are saying, and on and on. What about your stand for marriage restoration? Are you focused on that? Or are you focused on God? You have probably experienced all of these as what consumes your thoughts at some point.
It’s not unusual to feel like you are on a roller coaster emotionally. You pray, cry out to God, get in the Word, read Charlyne Cares email devotionals and get encouraged and built up. Considering the chaos around you, you are finally starting to feel confident in your stand for restoration. Then something happens. Your spouse is awful to you, you hear a report from a mutual friend about your spouse’s continued involvement with this other person, you find out your spouse is trying to legally remove you from seeing your children, you get a legal bill, eviction notice, or some other thing. It really doesn’t matter what IT is, but something will occur that will once again turn your world upside down and the cycle starts all over again. You cry out to God about the pain of your circumstances, pray, pray, and pray.
But let me remind you, it doesn’t matter what storms are swirling around you when your focus is on God. Consider the story of Peter when Jesus called to him to walk on the water with Him.
Shortly before dawn Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. “It’s a ghost,†they said, and cried out in fear. But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.†“Lord, if it’s you,†Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.†“Come,†he said. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!†Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,†he said, “why did you doubt?†Matthew 14:25-31
It is so easy to get your eyes off Jesus and look at all your problems. This is true not only in your stand for marriage restoration, but when facing any problem life throws your way whether it be a financial crisis, health crisis, or relationship crisis. I think it’s interesting to note that Jesus questioned Peter’s faith and asked about his doubt. When we take our eyes off Jesus and look at our circumstances what we are doing is doubting God. Think about it – it’s like we are saying, “God, I know you created the world, created man from the dust of the earth and everything that lives and breathes, and raised Jesus from the dead, but this problem I’m facing in my marriage, it’s too tough for you to handle.†Whoa! You say you believe God, but do you really? If you do, then trust Him! Forget the circumstances. Forget the chaos and put your focus on God.
Remind yourself how BIG God is.
The Lord Has No Equal Who else has held the oceans in his hand? Who has measured off the heavens with his fingers? Who else knows the weight of the earth or has weighed the mountains and hills on a scale? Who is able to advise the Spirit of the Lord? Who knows enough to give him advice or teach him? Has the Lord ever needed anyone’s advice? Does he need instruction about what is good? Did someone teach him what is right or show him the path of justice? No, for all the nations of the world are but a drop in the bucket. They are nothing more than dust on the scales. He picks up the whole earth as though it were a grain of sand. Isaiah 40:12-15 (NLT)
O Jacob, how can you say the Lord does not see your troubles? O Israel, how can you say God ignores your rights? Have you never heard? Have you never understood? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of all the earth. He never grows weak or weary. No one can measure the depths of his understanding. He gives power to the weak and strength to the powerless. Isaiah 40:27-29 (NLT)
God really is a BIG God! He will restore your marriage, but you have to trust Him. When you get your focus on Him and not all the “stuff†going on in your life, you begin to rise above. When that happens, when your mind and heart are focused totally on God, you will find perfect peace as you wait for Him to do a new work in you, your spouse, and your marriage.
Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. Colossians 3:2
You will keep him in perfect peace, Whose mind is stayed on You, Because he trusts in You. Isaiah 26:3 (NKJV)
Are you focused on God? It’s also possible to become so consumed with the idea of standing for marriage restoration that your focus moves to you and your stand. Remember, God is more concerned about your spouse being restored to Him and you being focused on Him.
So the next time you find your focus wandering off, remind yourself of these truths in God’s Word.
So let’s keep focused on that goal, those of us who want everything God has for us. If any of you have something else in mind, something less than total commitment, God will clear your blurred vision—you’ll see it yet! Now that we’re on the right track, let’s stay on it. Philippians 3: 15-16 (The Message)
Standing in Kentucky,
Josh
