Just Thinking about Changing my Focus

Sitting here this morning working through my Bible study ("No Other Gods" Kelly Minter) I didn't expect to have a light bulb moment like the one I had. Oh I opened up my Bible, my study and asked God to speak, even expected Him to! But what happened next was totally off the radar.

As I finished up the days homework, I opened my journal and jotted down a few notes about what God had shown me. He really smacked me across the face with something. Pretty much showed me where I had taken a good thing, and made it and the circumstances around it an idol. As I finished, I wrote my new memory verse for this two week period.

Psalm 16:11 "You will make known to me the path of life. In your presence is fullness of joy; in your right hand are pleasures forever."

You will make known to me the path of life. If I am doing what Matthew 6:33 says to do, (seeking God first) then I will know God's path for my life. Even when it seems unclear He will be faithful to illuminate the very next step. That is enough. Two steps ahead may overwhelm me, so we will just take one step at a time.

In your presence is fullness of joy; Seeking God first changes my living situation. It redirects my focus and places me in the presence of God. A place where there is fullness of joy. I believe that this type of joy is complete. Lacking nothing. A joy that is present regardless of life circumstances. This is the place where I want to live. As a Christian, NOT living in this place is a pretty good indication that I have some false gods that need to be taken down from their high place.

in your right hand are pleasures forever. The end of Matthew 6:33 says that after we are seeking God first, THEN "all these things will be added unto you." These things...like fullness of joy come AFTER we are seeking God's kingdom, His righteousness, not before. His right hand is full of pleasures, blessing designed for each of us. How sad it is that we miss it because we put so many other things, good things, and sometimes even people in His place.

God simply asks us to come after Him first. Anything we are chasing before Him is going to fail us. Nothing can compare to Him. Nothing.

Living a life focused on God alone is going to change my desires. My concept of "pleasures" will be forever altered and will line up with His idea of pleasures. What used to thrill me, make me smile or make me happy just will not have the same affect.

Psalm 37:4 will make total sense and God's desires will be my desire.

Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.