Set your affection on the things above, not on the things of the earth. Colossians 3:2

Priorities

Sometimes circumstances bring emotional, physical, or spiritual pain. It is right to say these things should not be ignored. But sometimes it's easy putting our focus only on earthly measures instead of putting them on things above and trusting God to intervene in His own way and His own timing.
 

I laughed at a statement a pastor once made about how after people have exhausted every avenue to deal with a problem say, “Well, I guess we should pray” when that should have been the first thing they should have done.

Acquaint thyself with your God is a call to prioritize a life of intimate fellowship with the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Jesus made this promise; “If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit, apart from me you can do nothing” (John 15:5). If we stay in Him, putting our trust and hope in Him alone, He will make our lives full of blessing, strength, peace of mind, encouragement and the promise that He is everywhere present. He is as close to us as the air we breathe knowing exactly what we are facing.
 

Job had that kind of faith. He was a very rich man who lost everything including all his children. On top of that his body became covered with boils. His wife, apparently in exasperation told her husband “Are you still maintaining your integrity? Curse God and die!” (Job 2:9) Job did not curse God of course and instead later made the amazing statement about Him, “Though He slay me yet will I hope in Him. I will argue my ways to His face” (Job 13:15). In all the terrible things that happened to him he kept his eyes on things above and his hope and trust in God.
 

 

Priority on keeping our mind on things above is of the essence if we are to have peace of mind in the times that try us or seem impossible to overcome. Who do we have in heaven except Jesus Christ who continually intercedes for us to God the Father (Hebrews 4:15)? Christ is above and above all things. He is our one and only priority.

Ken