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Relevant Reflections

    by Rebecca Livermore

What are You Looking At?
Date Posted: November 14, 2007
Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal (2 Corinthians 4:16-18 NKJV).

Let’s face it; we all have problems. No matter whether we are rich or poor, bad things happen to everyone. The car breaks down, the kids get sick, the money runs out, the dog dies. These types of circumstances tend to make us sad or overwhelmed. Sometimes we may even have a sense of hopelessness because we feel that life will never get better.

The problem is a matter of focus. Most often our thoughts go toward the problems of today, or worries about tomorrow. We might wonder how we are going to pay for our children’s college, or how we’re going to get out of debt. We may worry that our friend won’t survive cancer or that we’ll lose our job.

It’s not wrong to plan for the future, or to be concerned about a hurting friend or loved one. But those concerns should be a minor focus compared to the more important focus on that which is eternal. As we walk through the various trials of daily life, we must remember that God is at work through our hardships in order to prepare us to spend eternity with Him.

Father, we pray that You will help us to shift our focus from that which is temporal to that which is eternal. Change our prayer from “Lord, fatten our wallet” to, “Lord, purify our hearts.” Always remind us that our difficulties in this life are temporary, but our spirits live on forever in Your presence. ~ Amen.

Thought: Use your journal to write about and commit your problems of today to the Lord. Then ask God to change your focus from that which is temporal to that which is eternal. (Note: If you don't like to journal, spend this time in prayer on this topic.)

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Biography Information:
Rebecca Livermore is a speaker and freelance writer from Denver, Colorado. Her passion is helping people grow spiritually. To learn more about her ministry, and to read her articles on spiritual disciplines, visit http://www.rebeccalivermore.com.