Jesus. Focus on Jesus.
And as the week rolls by, I still have not heard yet from the board to find out if they approve me as their candidate. I would be lying if I told you that it has been an easy week. I have been pleading with God to finalize this. Either way, I am fine. I really have been asking Him to show me what it is that He wants me to learn from this. Asking. And Asking. And Asking. Is there something here that I am missing? Is there something here that You need me to learn? Am I in the right place? The right job? The right school? The right apartment? The right neighborhood? These have not been thoughts of doubt, or discouragement in where we are. I am really just trying to press into these questions to try to hear from God, and ask for guidance and discernment in all areas of my life.
So the answer I continue to hear from God is the title of this post: JESUS. FOCUS ON JESUS. What a great reminder to me that my focus should not be on all of these worldly things, but on Him. On the one that took the cup His Father gave to Him that He didn't want to take if He could avoid the pain and suffering. But He did take it, because it was His Father's will. I am certainly not comparing myself to Jesus, because as far as we know, Jesus only asked God once to take the cup away. I, on the other hand keep asking God to 'take this cup' by making the appointment finalized. But I will say that when I read the bible, or I take quiet time to try to hear His voice and guidance in this, I am comforted, and my worries vanish. My anxiety level drops to the basement. My heart fills with the hope in the Lord. And I do my best to focus on Jesus.
Psalm 40 was at the top of the reading list today, and take a look at why I was comforted: (even as I went to copy a few verses that encouraged me this morning, I thought it appropriate to put the whole Psalm, because the entire thing was an encouragement)
1 I waited patiently for the LORD;
he turned to me and heard my cry.
2 He lifted me out of the slimy pit,
out of the mud and mire;
he set my feet on a rock
and gave me a firm place to stand.
3 He put a new song in my mouth,
a hymn of praise to our God.
Many will see and fear
and put their trust in the LORD.
4 Blessed is the man
who makes the LORD his trust,
who does not look to the proud,
to those who turn aside to false gods. [a]
5 Many, O LORD my God,
are the wonders you have done.
The things you planned for us
no one can recount to you;
were I to speak and tell of them,
they would be too many to declare.
6 Sacrifice and offering you did not desire,
but my ears you have pierced [b] , [c] ;
burnt offerings and sin offerings
you did not require.
7 Then I said, "Here I am, I have come—
it is written about me in the scroll. [d]
8 I desire to do your will, O my God;
your law is within my heart."
9 I proclaim righteousness in the great assembly;
I do not seal my lips,
as you know, O LORD.
10 I do not hide your righteousness in my heart;
I speak of your faithfulness and salvation.
I do not conceal your love and your truth
from the great assembly.
11 Do not withhold your mercy from me, O LORD;
may your love and your truth always protect me.
12 For troubles without number surround me;
my sins have overtaken me, and I cannot see.
They are more than the hairs of my head,
and my heart fails within me.
13 Be pleased, O LORD, to save me;
O LORD, come quickly to help me.
14 May all who seek to take my life
be put to shame and confusion;
may all who desire my ruin
be turned back in disgrace.
15 May those who say to me, "Aha! Aha!"
be appalled at their own shame.
16 But may all who seek you
rejoice and be glad in you;
may those who love your salvation always say,
"The LORD be exalted!"
17 Yet I am poor and needy;
may the Lord think of me.
You are my help and my deliverer;
O my God, do not delay.
So for today, I will do my best to focus on Jesus. And that is the best that I can do.
So the answer I continue to hear from God is the title of this post: JESUS. FOCUS ON JESUS. What a great reminder to me that my focus should not be on all of these worldly things, but on Him. On the one that took the cup His Father gave to Him that He didn't want to take if He could avoid the pain and suffering. But He did take it, because it was His Father's will. I am certainly not comparing myself to Jesus, because as far as we know, Jesus only asked God once to take the cup away. I, on the other hand keep asking God to 'take this cup' by making the appointment finalized. But I will say that when I read the bible, or I take quiet time to try to hear His voice and guidance in this, I am comforted, and my worries vanish. My anxiety level drops to the basement. My heart fills with the hope in the Lord. And I do my best to focus on Jesus.
Psalm 40 was at the top of the reading list today, and take a look at why I was comforted: (even as I went to copy a few verses that encouraged me this morning, I thought it appropriate to put the whole Psalm, because the entire thing was an encouragement)
1 I waited patiently for the LORD;
he turned to me and heard my cry.
2 He lifted me out of the slimy pit,
out of the mud and mire;
he set my feet on a rock
and gave me a firm place to stand.
3 He put a new song in my mouth,
a hymn of praise to our God.
Many will see and fear
and put their trust in the LORD.
4 Blessed is the man
who makes the LORD his trust,
who does not look to the proud,
to those who turn aside to false gods. [a]
5 Many, O LORD my God,
are the wonders you have done.
The things you planned for us
no one can recount to you;
were I to speak and tell of them,
they would be too many to declare.
6 Sacrifice and offering you did not desire,
but my ears you have pierced [b] , [c] ;
burnt offerings and sin offerings
you did not require.
7 Then I said, "Here I am, I have come—
it is written about me in the scroll. [d]
8 I desire to do your will, O my God;
your law is within my heart."
9 I proclaim righteousness in the great assembly;
I do not seal my lips,
as you know, O LORD.
10 I do not hide your righteousness in my heart;
I speak of your faithfulness and salvation.
I do not conceal your love and your truth
from the great assembly.
11 Do not withhold your mercy from me, O LORD;
may your love and your truth always protect me.
12 For troubles without number surround me;
my sins have overtaken me, and I cannot see.
They are more than the hairs of my head,
and my heart fails within me.
13 Be pleased, O LORD, to save me;
O LORD, come quickly to help me.
14 May all who seek to take my life
be put to shame and confusion;
may all who desire my ruin
be turned back in disgrace.
15 May those who say to me, "Aha! Aha!"
be appalled at their own shame.
16 But may all who seek you
rejoice and be glad in you;
may those who love your salvation always say,
"The LORD be exalted!"
17 Yet I am poor and needy;
may the Lord think of me.
You are my help and my deliverer;
O my God, do not delay.
So for today, I will do my best to focus on Jesus. And that is the best that I can do.
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