Daily Reflections · Hope When Life Hurts (Part 20) · John 17; Colossians 3:1–2
Renewing Reverence, Refocusing on Christ
We are still reflecting on the practicals to remember. We have discussed the first and the second — let us now concentrate on the third and fourth.
Third, begin each day by renewing your sense of reverence for God. Start each new day by talking to the Lord, even if that early morning talk has to be brief. You can tell Him that you might encounter strong seductive forces that will allure you today. Since you are frail and fragile, you really need His help.
- Then trade off with Him. Hand over your fragility and receive His strength in return.
- Reverence Him as the source of your power.
Fourth, periodically during each day focus fully on Christ. In his book Spiritual Stamina, Stuart Briscoe cites a good example of this: it is fun watching young men in love. It can be even more fun when the romance is long distance. You can predict what will happen — that is being focused fully on another person.
- I challenge you to deliberately set aside a few minutes every day when your eyes glaze over, when you do not realize where you are, when a telephone ring means nothing — because you are focusing fully on Christ.
- Imagine Christ as He walks with His disciples, touching those who were sick, praying for them in John 17, going to the cross, sitting with His disciples at the seashore and having broiled fish for breakfast.
- Then imagine Him as He is thinking about you, praying for you, standing with you, living in you.
These four techniques will help you stay clean in a corrupt society, to be in the world but not of it. Think about it.
Question for Reflection
Do you renew your sense of reverence for God daily? Reflect on this.
Shalom & Maranatha!
Hillcross Ministry