{"id":20652,"date":"2017-10-02T00:10:07","date_gmt":"2017-10-02T07:10:07","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/lccredding.com\/lcc\/?p=11705"},"modified":"2017-10-17T17:17:28","modified_gmt":"2017-10-18T00:17:28","slug":"october-2-2017","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.lccredding.org\/church\/2017\/10\/02\/october-2-2017\/","title":{"rendered":"October 2, 2017"},"content":{"rendered":"
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“Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.”<\/em> Colossians 3:2<\/span><\/p>\n

Look to His Beauty<\/span><\/strong><\/h2>\n

When going through a hard time, the things that we are dealing with are “front and center.” It’s what’s happening, what we have to cope with, so it’s natural that our focus is on that. But therein lies a trap of the enemy if we aren’t careful!<\/span><\/p>\n

The enemy wants us to focus on the problems\u2014our pain, our weakness, our sorrow, our loneliness. God wants us to keep our focus on HIM in the midst of all these problems. When we keep our eyes on Him, it puts the problems in the proper perspective.<\/span><\/p>\n

Someone sent me this definition of FEAR: false evidence appearing real!<\/span><\/p>\n

If we focus on the problems, it’s so easy for fear to creep in. Before we know it, the problems and the resulting fear can overwhelm our trust in the Lord. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

In the midst of hard, very difficult days, I have to constantly remind myself to keep my focus on Him, His goodness, His answers, His grace, His sufficiency, His strength\u2014instead of focusing on the problems. I have to choose my perspective! I never “conquer” doing this. It’s something I have to do in the midst of each new difficulty and hard time. His grace for the problems is sufficient\u2014one day at a time.<\/span><\/p>\n

I have some large windows\u2014some of them high off the ground. I have someone who helps me clean them. I get nervous just watching him climb the ladder!! But this helper has been away on holiday. We’ve had lots of windy\/rainy\/stormy weather. So my windows are dirty, streaky, and spotted. My view through the windows is a lovely one\u2014the ocean, trees, mountains. But right now, if I’m not careful, all I see is the mess on the windows! I have to look beyond that to see the beauty.<\/span><\/p>\n

So it is in life, we must look beyond all the problems we’re facing and see the beauty of Jesus Who is greater than the problems. When we keep our eyes, our focus on Him, it invites Him into our situation! He enters in to help and strengthen us. He enables us to have joy even on the hardest of days. How faithful He is.<\/span><\/p>\n

“In all their suffering He also suffered, and He personally rescued them. In His love and mercy He redeemed them. He lifted them up and carried them through all the years”<\/em> (Isaiah 63:9).<\/span><\/p>\n

“The Lord stood at my side and gave me strength”<\/em> (2 Timothy 4:17).<\/span><\/p>\n

“Now may the Lord of peace Himself give you peace at all times and in every way”<\/em> (2 Thessalonians 3:16). \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

“Trust in Him at all times\u2014pour out your hearts to Him, for God is our refuge”<\/em> (Psalm 62:8).<\/span><\/p>\n

I’m so grateful that He helps us through life’s difficulties each day. He never grows weary of stepping into our lives and helping us.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThank You, Lord!\u201d<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>

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