Upside down 2: The WORRIES of this life…

(Updated and refreshed from 2011)

“The one who received the seed that fell among the thorns is the man who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke it, making it unfruitful.” (Matthew 13:22)

The Upside Down Reality

When I read the parable of the sower (or the soils), it reveals yet another upside-down way we tend to think.

In the world’s system, worry is normal—even expected. It’s often seen as responsible, caring, and even necessary. But in God’s Kingdom, worry is not something to embrace—it’s something to release.

The World’s Perspective

We live in a culture that constantly feeds worry, anxiety, and fear.

News outlets thrive on keeping people concerned about today, tomorrow, and the future. Fear increases viewership—it keeps people watching. From political unrest and natural disasters to crime, accidents, and even the latest “can’t-miss” deal, the message is clear: be concerned, be alert, don’t fall behind.

And we’ve learned to live the same way.

I’ve heard so many parents express how worried they are about their children—their choices, their safety, their future. That worry often becomes a badge of honor, almost as if it proves how much they love.

If it’s not our children, it’s something else—our jobs, our health, our finances, our relationships. And sometimes, even when everything is going well, we still find ourselves worrying about what might happen.

It’s almost as if we’ve been conditioned to believe that worry equals responsibility.

If I don’t worry… does that mean I don’t care?

My husband likes to quote a comedian who said,
“Worrying really works! Everything I’ve worried about never happened!”

It’s funny—but it also reveals something deeper.

The Heart Issue

Why do we worry so much? Does it actually change anything?

“Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?” (Matthew 6:27)

Haven’t we heard that anxiety, worry and fear can cause health issues?  Where does this come from anyway and why is it so much a part of our Christian lives? Most people don’t want to live in worry, but they don’t know how to stop.

We could probably come up with a multitude of reasons why we worry but in the end we can see the root of it all, our worry reveals something deeper: a struggle to fully trust God.

When we boil it down, worry often exposes a lack of confidence in His goodness, His faithfulness, and His provision. This takes us all the way back to the beginning. In the Garden of Eden, the enemy’s strategy was simple but powerful—cause doubt.

“Did God really say…?” (Genesis 3:1–5)

That same whisper still echoes today—subtly planting fear and questioning God’s character. The lie suggests that God may not come through… that He might be holding something back.

And when we believe that, worry takes root.

God’s Perspective

But God tells a completely different story.

He points us to the lilies of the field—how they grow without striving—and yet are beautifully clothed.
He reminds us that the birds are fed, even though they do not store away in barns.
And then He gently asks: how much more valuable are you?

“But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow…” (Matthew 6:33–34)

Jesus says:

“Do not worry about your life… Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom.” (Luke 12:22–32)

He reassures us:

“Peace I leave with you; My peace I give you… Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” (John 14:27)

We are instructed:

“Do not be anxious about anything… and the peace of God… will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:6–7)

And we are reminded:

“Perfect love drives out fear.” (1 John 4:18)

Over and over again, we hear the same message:
Do not be afraid.

God knows how easily fear can take hold—and how quickly it can choke out His Word, making it unfruitful. So He continually calls us back to Himself:

“Look at Me, My child. Trust Me.”

Turning It Right Side Up

So how do we actually live this out? If we’re honest, we tend to trust those we truly know. The same is true in our relationship with God.

If we only know about Him, worry will still find a place to grow. But when we begin to truly know Him—His heart, His character, His faithfulness—trust starts to replace fear.

This isn’t about striving to do more for God. It’s about intentionally pursuing Him. Spending time in His Word—not out of obligation, but out of desire to know Him. Asking Him to reveal His heart. Letting His truth take root deep within us.

As that happens, His Word begins to grow and flourish in our hearts—and it is no longer choked out by the worries of this life.

A Simple Perspective Shift

One of our favorite movie lines comes from Bridge of Spies. When asked if he was worried about an upcoming exchange, the spy simply replied:

“Would it help?”

Such a simple question—but incredibly revealing.

Because the honest answer is: No.

So, if worry doesn’t help… why do we keep holding onto it?

Father, I pray that we would set our hearts on truly knowing You—understanding Your love, Your faithfulness, and Your goodness toward us. Help us to recognize the lies we have believed and replace them with the truth of who You are.

Teach us to trust You more and more. Reveal Your heart to us in deeper ways, so that Your perfect love would drive out every fear within us.

We choose to place our worries into Your hands, knowing that You care for us completely.

In Jesus’ name, amen.

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Selah: Reflection and Pause

What worries have been quietly taking root in your heart?

Have you been carrying them as a sign of responsibility—or even love?

Do you truly trust that God cares for you and will provide for what you need?

What would it look like to intentionally pursue knowing Him more in this season?

Take a moment to sit with Him.
Invite Him to reveal where fear has replaced trust—and allow His truth to take its place.

“Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you.” (1 Peter 5:7)

I see things UPSIDE DOWN

(Updated from August 26, 2011)

Seeing Things Upside Down

Over the last couple of years, as I’ve shared my life with others—and they’ve shared theirs with me—I’ve been struck again and again by how often we, as Christians, see things upside down.

What I mean is this: the more I get to know God and His Kingdom principles, the more I realize that many of the things I believed throughout my Christian walk are not at all what God is asking of me. In fact, they are often the exact opposite—backwards, even upside down—from what He desires.

A few years ago, some friends introduced us to a Derek Webb song called “What Is Not Love” (also known as “I See Things Upside Down”). These lyrics have stayed with me: 

What looks like failure is success

And what looks like poverty is riches

When what is true looks more like a knife

It looks like you’re killing me

But you’re saving my life

But I give myself to what looks like love

And I sell myself for what feels like love

And I pay to get what is not love

And all just because I see things upside down

What looks like weakness can do anything

And what looks like foolishness is understanding

When what is powerful has not come to fight

It looks like you’re going to war

But you lay down your life

What looks like torture is a time to rejoice

What sounds like thunder is a comforting voice

When what is beautiful looks broken and crushed

And I say I don’t know you

But you say it’s finished

(What is not Love by Derek Webb)

Those words capture this idea perfectly. So, with this intro, I will start off with the first in a series on this topic.  

The Pressure to Convince

Recently, I was talking with a friend who shared that she sometimes has conversations in her mind—imagining what she would say to nonbelievers if she ever had the opportunity to talk with them about the Lord and the truth of the Bible.

She’s mentally preparing for a debate that may never even happen. Can you relate? I certainly can.

I remember doing the same thing—especially after unexpected conversations with skeptics. I would walk away and replay everything in my mind, thinking of all the things I wish I had said, rewriting the conversation over and over.

I often felt so inadequate in my responses. I wished I had better answers—better comebacks—so that somehow, through my words, they would “see the light” and be convinced of the truth of Jesus. (insert “angelic” “ah-ha” music here)

But the key issue was this: they were my words.

And honestly, this reminds me of another area where I fall into the same trap—my marriage. I catch myself trying to “fix” my husband, trying to get him to “see the light” and realize that I am right.

And for some reason… it never works out in reality the way it does in my head. (What’s up with that? 😊)

It Was Never Our Job to Save

So why do we feel like it’s our responsibility to save people? And what does Scripture actually say?

Jesus said:
“I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14:6)

Not through Linda. Not through Tom, Bob, Sue, Jane, or Mary—but through Jesus.

And again:
“No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws them…” (John 6:44)

That means unless the Father is drawing someone, there is nothing we can say or do to convince them. It is the Holy Spirit’s role to convict, to reveal truth, and to draw hearts to God.

Words vs. Witness

This next passage had a huge effect on me:

“Wives, in the same way be submissive to your husbands so that, if any of them do not believe the word, they may be won over without words by the behavior of their wives…” (1 Peter 3:1–2)

That phrase—without words—convicts me every time. Especially in marriage. And if I’m honest, I also fall short of the “purity and reverence” part more often than I’d like to admit.

But this passage highlights something so important: we are called to live the life ourselves—to love others as Jesus loves us:

“Love each other as I have loved you.” (John 15:12)

And then… let God do the rest. Now, I’m not saying God won’t ever use our words—He absolutely does. But I think we often lean too heavily on words and not enough on how we live.

Disciples, Not Converts

And you might be thinking, What about Matthew 28?

“Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you…" (Matthew 28:19–20)

Did you catch that? It doesn’t say “make converts.” It says make disciples. So why do we so often take on the responsibility of “saving” people?

What I’ve come to see is this: God draws people to Himself—and we are called to disciple them.

A Life That Draws Others

So how do we do that? I believe it starts with our lives. Our relationship with God. Our relationships with others. The visible evidence of His transforming work in us.

There’s a quote often attributed to St. Francis of Assisi:
“Preach the gospel at all times. When necessary, use words.”

Whether or not he actually said it, the truth still stands.

We have it backwards when we try to convince others with words while our lives don’t yet reflect His love.

Truth be told, I think it is easier for us spend our time "arguing and debating" with people rather than learning to love them. And trying to fix them rather than build relationships with them.

Scripture reminds us:

“Don’t have anything to do with foolish and stupid arguments… the Lord’s servant must not quarrel; instead, he must be kind to everyone…” (2 Timothy 2:23–24)

It’s also easier to see other people’s issues than our own. And let’s face it—it’s often more comfortable trying to fix others than allowing God to work on us.

But imagine this:

What if our lives so clearly reflected Christ—His love, compassion, kindness, mercy, and grace—that people were drawn to us?

That they began to ask,
“What must I do to be saved?” (Acts 16:30)

That kind of life doesn’t come easily. It requires surrender. Refining. Humility. Letting God deal with our “stuff.”

But when we do, this Scripture becomes reality:

“Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have…” (1 Peter 3:15)

When God is at work, people will be drawn—and they will ask. And how will they recognize us?

Jesus said:
“By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” (John 13:35)  

Turning It Right-Side Up

We can’t give what we don’t have.

Until we allow Jesus to transform our hearts and fill us with His love, we won’t have it to offer others.

“But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well” (Matthew 6:33)

When we fix our eyes on Him and allow Him to change us, He will take care of the rest.

So in summary, what we often see upside down is this:

We take on the responsibility of saving, fixing, and changing others—when that was never our role. We rely on our words, debates, and arguments, instead of living lives that reflect His love and allowing God to reveal Himself through us.

“Love the Lord your God with all your heart… and love your neighbor as yourself.” (Matthew 22:37–39)

Lord, help me to focus on You and on what You have asked me to do—and not take on what was never mine to carry. Teach me to simply be the branch, abiding in You, instead of trying to do Your work for You. Give me Your perspective. Help me to see through Your eyes.

Transform my heart. Fill me with Your love, grace, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, and self-control—so that it overflows to those around me.

In Jesus’ name, amen.

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Selah: Reflection and Pause

Take a moment to be still before the Lord.

Where in your life might you be seeing things upside down?

Is there someone you’ve been trying to “fix,” convince, or change with your words—whether in your family, your marriage, your friendships, or even with strangers?

Gently ask the Lord to reveal if you’ve taken on a role that was never yours to carry.

Now shift your focus inward.

Are there areas in your own heart where God is inviting you to surrender, grow, or be transformed?

Remember, He is not asking you to strive harder—but to abide more deeply.

As you sit with Him, reflect:

• Am I relying more on my words than on the testimony of my life?
• Do my actions reflect the love, grace, and humility of Christ?
• Am I trusting God to draw others, or am I trying to do His work for Him?

Release the pressure to fix others.
Release the need to have the right words.
Release the burden of outcomes that were never yours to control.

And receive His invitation instead:

To walk closely with Him.
To be transformed by Him.
To love others as He has loved you.

Reflection Question:
What would it look like this week to shift my focus from changing others to allowing God to change me?

“Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me.” (John 15:4)

God's ETERNAL Perspective

(Updated from March 23, 2011)

“But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day.” — 2 Peter 3:8

The Code breaker

Do you remember—or have you at least heard about—the “secret decoder rings” from back in the day? Those rings let you break hidden codes in notes or letters, revealing a deeper message or purpose.

Lately, I feel like I’ve been given a “decoder ring” of my own—and I didn’t even need to buy Cracker Jack or drink Ovaltine to get it! Along with it came a “code breaker” word: Eternity… or what I like to call an eternal perspective.

As I read the Bible through this lens, I’m beginning to see more clearly into the heart and thoughts of God. The more time I spend in His Word, the more my thinking shifts from a temporal view to an eternal one. And when that shift happens, Scripture almost seems to come alive in a new way—like a door of understanding swings open.

I’ve come to see “eternity” as a true code breaker into the mind of God.

Light and momentary troubles

Maybe it’s because we are so consumed with the “here and now”—the daily grind of life—that we get stuck there. It can be hard to look beyond what’s right in front of us and grasp something as vast as eternity.

Sometimes we even expect God to operate within our limited perspective:
“Lord, why aren’t You doing something?”
“I know You can fix this—what’s holding You back?”

But the truth is… He is doing something.

Because God is focused on our eternal future, His way of working often looks very different from what we expect. When we “put on” our decoder ring and apply an eternal perspective, we begin to see that the very struggles we face are shaping us for His Kingdom.

Scripture reminds us of this:

• “Consider it pure joy… whenever you face trials of many kinds” (James 1:2)
• “Do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering…” (1 Peter 4:12)

And then there’s Paul. In 2 Corinthians 11:23–27, he lists intense hardships— "I have worked much harder, been in prison... flogged...exposed to death again and again... beaten with rods,.. stoned... shipwrecked,.. constantly on the move... been in danger from rivers, bandits, from my own countrymen, from Gentiles; I have often gone without sleep; I have known hunger ...thirst and...I have been cold and naked..."

Yet in 2 Corinthians 4:16–18, he says:

“Therefore we do not lose heart… For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes on not what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.”

Did you catch that? Even through all his suffering, Paul kept his eyes fixed on eternity.

“Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.” — Colossians 3:2

Do you trust Me?

A few years ago, Tom and I walked through a particularly difficult and stretching season. Nothing made sense, and it went completely against what we thought should be happening, and against all common sense and logic.

One morning during worship, I felt the Lord speak to my heart:

“Linda, I do not make mistakes. I am not a man that I would make a mistake—I am perfect. Even when things look out of control, nothing is out of My control. You just need to trust Me.”

So… we did.

That season wasn’t easy, but we saw God move in incredible ways—not only in provision, but deep within our hearts. Our faith and trust in Him grew far more than they ever would have in comfortable seasons.

God’s loving hands use difficult moments to shape, refine, and prepare us for His eternal purposes.

And He gently asks: “Do you trust Me?”

Are we there yet?

From Genesis 3:15 to Malachi 3:1, God promised the coming Messiah. Generations came and went, each likely believing they would see Him in their lifetime.

Yet thousands of years passed—including 400 years of silence between the Old and New Testaments. In the “temporal” perspective, that is a lot of years!!

Then Jesus came. And what did He talk about most? Think about that for a minute…

The Kingdom of Heaven. John the Baptist, Jesus, and His disciples all proclaimed:

“Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near.” (Matthew 3:2; 4:17; 10:7)

Jesus spoke of His return, and it often felt imminent. The disciples likely expected it soon—perhaps even within their lifetime.

Matthew 24:30 says "At that time the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and all the nations of the earth will mourn. They will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of the sky, with power and great glory."  

Mark 1:15 says "The time has come, he said. The kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the good news!"

And here we are… over 2,000 years later.  Yet when viewed through an eternal perspective, it is soon.

Scripture says it will happen “in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye” (1 Corinthians 15:52).

God’s definition of “near” looks very different from ours.

It’s about “Time”!

I love how Henry Cloud describes time in his book Changes That Heal:
“Time is an incubator for redemption.”

I love that! Being a visual person, after I read that, I pictured eternity as an endless timeline, and our life on earth as a small “Airstream trailer” placed within it. Before it—eternity. After it—eternity.

In order for us to be redeemed, God placed us in a “time incubator” to provide for our redemption.  So, time is just a blip on the radar, a blink of an eye, a hick-up in eternity... This life is just a brief moment… a blink… a breath.

Scripture paints this picture clearly:
“As for man, his days are like grass…” (Psalm 103:15–16)

Jesus didn’t come to give us better temporary lives—He came so that we might have eternal life (John 3:16).

When I slip on my decoder ring and look through the eternal lens, it becomes clear: 

God is far more concerned with what carries into eternity than what stays in the temporary.

This life… is preparation. A kind of eternal boot camp.

The Healing Pool

Healing has always been something I’ve wrestled with.

I believe it is still for today. I believe in the power of the Holy Spirit. But why do we not always see healing? Why are some healed and others not? Through the lens of eternity, things begin to shift.

In John 9, when asked why a man was born blind, Jesus replied:
“…so that the work of God might be displayed in his life.”

For God’s glory.

In John 5, many lay by the pool waiting to be healed—but Jesus healed just one man. Why?

Because God is always working within a greater eternal plan—one that reveals His glory in ways we may not fully understand.

He knows exactly how to reach hearts, reveal His love, and accomplish His purposes.

“Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” — Galatians 6:9

What are you praying for?

Recently, I met with a woman who was struggling with serious health issues that had left her bedridden for a long time.

As she shared, I kept hearing the Lord say: “This is connected to a prayer.”

So, I asked her, “Have you been praying for something specific?”

She quickly responded, “Yes… I’ve been praying to go deeper with the Lord.”

Then it clicked.

Before her illness, she had been so busy with life and ministry that she had little time with Him. Now, in the stillness, she was spending deep, meaningful time in His presence.

Through tears, she shared that she heard the Lord say: “I missed you.”

Wow. God will go to great lengths to draw us closer—for our eternal good.

As I prayed for her, I sensed the Lord say:
“She was healed, is healed, and is being healed.”

Don't you just want to say "excuse me? I don't quite get that Lord...?"  But again, we need to take out our secret decoder rings and insert "eternal perspective”.

God declares in Isaiah 46:10: "I make known the end from the beginning, from ancient times, what is still to come. I say: My purpose will stand, and I will do all that I please."

So, in Him, healing is not just a moment—it is a complete work across eternity.

Our bodies are just "tents" for our eternal spirits and, because God proclaimed that we “would surely die” in Genesis 2:17, our bodies will eventually need to go... So, He focuses more on our eternal "emotional" and "spiritual" healing than on our "physical" healing.

And suddenly… it makes more sense. It’s all about what will transition from time into eternity with Him!

Remember the “E” ticket!                                                                           

When I was a child at Disneyland, ticket books ranged from “A” to “E”—and the “E” tickets were the best. They got you on the most exciting rides.

That’s how I now see the eternal perspective. “E” for Eternity! It’s the “E-ticket” and the best ride in the house when it comes to understanding God.

So next time you read Scripture, try slipping on your “decoder ring” and using the code breaker word: Eternity. See what opens up.

Take Jeremiah 29:11, for example. While it applies to our lives now, it takes on even deeper meaning through eternal eyes:

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord… “plans to give you hope and a future.”

Lord, I pray that we will begin to use our “E” tickets and secret decoder rings in all aspects of our lives and relationship with You. Help us to see YOUR eternal perspective and to look past the here and now and into what you may be doing in our hearts and lives eternally.  Teach us to trust You more deeply as You mold and shape us into the tools You need for Your Eternal Kingdom and for Your Glory.  In Jesus name I pray, amen!

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Selah: Reflection and Pause

Take a moment to pause… breathe… and reflect.

• Where in your life are you most focused on the here and now instead of the eternal?
• Are there situations that feel confusing, frustrating, or even painful that might look different through God’s eternal perspective?
• How have past seasons shaped your faith, even if you didn’t understand them at the time?
• Is there something you’ve been asking God to “fix” that He may actually be using to form you?
• When God asks, “Do you trust Me?”—what is your honest response?

Now ask the Lord:

“Help me to see this through Your eyes… not mine.”

Remember—what feels overwhelming in the moment may be accomplishing something eternal beyond what you can see.

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Reflection Question:
What would change in your current situation if you truly embraced God’s eternal perspective instead of your temporary one?

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“As for man, his days are like grass, he flourishes like a flower of the field; the wind blows over it and it is gone, and its place remembers it no more.” Psalm 103:15-16

Faith… The final Frontier…

(Updated from December 2016)

"I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there' and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you. " Matthew 17:20

Being a “Trekkie,” I couldn’t resist the title of this blog. It just kind of flowed easily since “faith” rhymed with “space.” Initially, it was meant to be humorous and catchy—but the more I thought about it, the more truth I realized it holds.

Isn’t our faith pivotal in so many ways, across so many areas and levels? Spiritually speaking, that is. I’m beginning to wonder if faith really is the final frontier in our journey to know God. Once we truly “get” and understand what Jesus is saying, maybe we actually will go where few have gone before.

Let’s start with the verse above. Does anyone else struggle with this? I mean, really. I can see how my faith might rank a little low on a scale of 1 to 10—but surely it’s bigger than a mustard seed! So why am I not seeing mountains move when I pray? What am I missing?

The other day, while listening to the Gospels, I heard Jesus say, “Have faith in God” (Mark 11:22), and it made me pause. Where is my faith—and what is it in?

You know how you can hear something for years and not really get it? This felt like one of those moments.

I realized I needed to re-evaluate my faith in God. That seems to be a crucial piece. Isn’t that exactly what Jesus said? Have faith in God.

When I really examined it, I saw that I often put my faith in my own ability—trying hard to believe, striving to say the right words, almost like I could will the mountain to move (insert full-body flexing and grunting here). My faith was in my effort to make something happen, believing that God would empower me to do it.

Once again, I had made it about me. Without even realizing it, I had taken my eyes off of God and placed them squarely on myself.

So, as I kept listening to the Gospels, I tried something simple: I began inserting “in God” every time Jesus said “have faith.” And for me, it changed everything. It shifted my focus from the thing… to God.

Take the mustard seed scripture again:

“…you have so little faith [in God]. I tell you the truth, if you have faith [in God] as small as a mustard seed… nothing will be impossible for you.”

Doesn’t that change how you hear it?

“He said to his disciples, "Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith [in God]?" Mark 4:40 ...Ouch.

“When Jesus heard this, he was amazed at him, and turning to the crowd following him, he said, "I tell you, I have not found such great faith [in God] even in Israel." Luke 7:9.

He is saying that he has not found anyone in Israel with greater faith in God than a Roman Centurion!! Wow!!

Here are a couple more:

• “But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith [in God] may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers."  (Luke 22:32)

• “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith [in God]?” (Mark 4:40) 

And then Jesus says it plainly:

“Anyone who has faith in Me will do what I have been doing…” (John 14:12)

Faith in Him. Not in ourselves. Not in the outcome. Not in the method.

So, what does it really mean to have faith in God?

Tom and I have talked about this many times, and we keep coming back to this:

It means trusting that God is good—that what He says is good, what He does is good, and that He will do what He says He will do… no matter what things look or feel like.

When we take our eyes off the mountain, the fig tree, and our circumstances—and fix them on God—His will becomes our focus, not ours.

Jesus prayed that we would be one with God, just as He is (John 17:11). He said over and over that He only did what the Father told Him to do. Never His own will—only the Father’s.

So, when we are aligned with God—when we are one with Him—and He wants the mountain moved… it will move. Because God is the one moving it. Not us.

One of the mistakes I’ve made over and over is assuming God would empower my will.

For example, I might pray: “God, I have faith that You’ll give me $10,000 so I can do great things for You!” And if it doesn’t happen, I’m left wondering why. But the truth is, my faith wasn’t in God—it was in my desire for the outcome. I wanted the money… and I wanted God to agree with me. But that wasn’t His will.

When my eyes are truly on God, I become more concerned with His will than my own. And that applies to every area of life—financial, emotional, physical, relational, and spiritual.

Am I focused on those things… or on Him? One of my favorite thoughts from Oswald Chambers fits perfectly here:

“Am I looking for the blessings of God, or am I looking for God who has the blessings?”

As I searched the Scriptures, I found this theme confirmed again and again:

• “I have faith in God that it will happen just as He told me.” (Acts 27:25)
• “This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe.”  (Romans 3:22)
• “…I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” (Galatians 2:20)
• “…You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus…” (Galatians 3:26)
• “Through him you believe in God, who raised him from the dead and glorified him, and so your faith and hope are in God.” (1 Peter 1:21)

Over and over—it points back to the same truth:

Faith is not about what I can do. It’s not even about how strongly I believe. It’s about Who my faith is in.

I haven’t fully figured this out yet—and maybe I’m still on the caboose of this revelation—but I do feel like I’m getting closer to that final frontier than I was before.

So, the question remains:

What is my faith in?

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Father,
Thank You for showing me where I’ve misplaced my faith. Help me to grow in my relationship with You,
to become one with You as Jesus is one with You. Align my heart with Yours so that I desire Your will above my own. Teach me to trust You more—day by day. Amen.

Selah: Reflection and Pause

Take a moment to quietly reflect:

Where is my faith truly placed?

Am I trusting in my ability to make things happen, in the outcome I’m hoping for,
or am I fully trusting in God—His character, His goodness, and His will?

What “mountains” or situations in my life have I been focusing on more than Him?

What might it look like, today, to shift my focus off of those things and place it fully on God?

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Reflection Question:
Is my faith in what I want God to do… or in who God is?