When life goes awry, when temptation comes, the key to victory is focus on the Lord.
Temptation
When Christ was tempted, He didn’t look at the bread, He looked at the Word of God.
“But He answered and said, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread along, but on every work that proceeds out of the mouth of God.’”” (Matthew 4:4)
Suffering
When Paul was imprisoned, he didn’t look at his chains, but at how his circumstances were for the cause of Christ.
“Now I want you to know, brethren, that my circumstances have turned out for the greater progress of the gospel, so that my imprisonment in the cause of Christ has become well known throughout the whole praetorian guard and to everyone else, and that most of the brethren, trusting in the Lord because of my imprisonment, have far more courage to speak the word of God without fear.” (Philippians 1:12–14)
Anxiety
When you’re anxious, don’t look at your situation, but to pray.
“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:6–7)
How
- Catch yourself looking at the wrong things, e.g. focusing on your pain, or your disappointment, or your worries.
- Train yourself to stop whenever you feel other than positive or neutral.
- Remind yourself of God’s sovereignty and love for you. You don’t understand what is going on, you are suffering, but God is in control and will bring good out of whatever is happening (or will happen).
- Set your mind on God’s interests, not your own. (Mark 8:33)
- “Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth.” (Colossians 3:2)
- Speak to yourself “in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody with your heart to the Lord.” (Ephesians 5:19)
- “Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God.” (Colossians 3:16)
- Pray.
Prepare
It is easier to keep your focus on the Lord if you saturate your mind with Him. This is not a “little dab will do ya,” this is a continual, intentional activity and frame of mind.
- Habitually study the Word of God.
- Habitually read, listen, and watch what informs you about the Lord and which draws you closer to Him.
- Dwell on what is true, honorable, right, pure, lovely, of good repute, excellent, or worthy of praise. (Philippians 4:8)
- Memorize scripture and (good) hymns. Storing scripture and hymns in your heart helps “the word of Christ richly dwell within you,” and enables you to pull out the truth at any time.
- Pray without ceasing, keeping your focus where it belongs, on your all-sufficient Lord.
Practice
Don’t leave the world, or leave your secular job. Instead, do everything for the glory of God. (1 Corinthians 10:31) It is possible to grow in Christ in the midst of our daily routines. We have to be in the world, but we do not have to be like the world.
Focusing on the Lord through life’s daily challenges takes practice. Do the best you can day by day. You’ll see growth. Guaranteed.
