23 January: Tuesday Refocus

“The heart which has no agenda but God’s is the heart at leisure form itself. Its emptiness is filled with the love of God. Its solitude can be turned into prayer.” - Elisabeth Elliot

We enter a new year with excitement, anticipation, anxiety, and likely a few lists and plans for what we hope to accomplish, who we desire to become. Whether conscious or not, we have an agenda. But how quickly those best laid plans, or the pace of life fill every corner our heart, mind, life, time, and attention. Don’t you desire rest?

For the follower of Jesus, rest is not the reward for a job well-done. Rest is the posture of heart and life because Christ has accomplished what we could never do: heal the divide sin has wrought between God and man (Hebrews 10, Colossians 1:20).

Cease your striving, find rest in God.

Empty your heart, be filled with God’s love.

Silence the noise, and meet God in prayer.

“Our soul waits for the Lord; he is our help and our shield. For our heart is glad in him, because we trust in his holy name. Let your steadfast love, O Lord, be upon us, even as we hope in you.” - Psalm 33:20-22

Waiting,

AB

16 January: Tuesday Refocus

“Calm me, O Lord, as You still the storm. Still me, O Lord, keep me from harm. Let all the tumult within me cease. Enfold me, Lord, in Your peace.” - Celtic prayer

The rest and rescue we most desire cannot be found in created things. Both within and without the ground of our being and beneath our feet is sand. Shifting, sinking. No amount of interior exploration, or exterior distraction can level out the most unsettled places of our souls.

But there is good news, there is hope - Christ our Savior is a firm and fixed hope, an anchor for our souls (Psalm 18:1-2, Hebrews 6:19). Upon the throne of grace is seated a Savior who lives to make intercession - daily bearing us up at the right hand of the Father (Hebrews 4:16, Hebrews 7:25, Psalm 68:19, Romans 8:34). Righteousness and justice are the foundation of His throne, and steadfast love and faithfulness go before Him (Psalm 89:14). Even in the chaos of the world and our hearts, no one can be snatched from the hand of the Savior (John 10:28).

Father, in the middle of storms within and without, may our gaze be fixed, my our lives be anchored, my our souls rest in the life, death, resurrection, and intercession of Your Son, Jesus. In His name, amen.

Wrestling and resting,

AB

September 29: Tuesday Refocus

"But those who seek to destroy my life shall go down into the depths of the earth; They shall be given over to the power of the sword; They shall be a portion for jackals. But the king shall rejoice in God; All who swear by Him shall exult, For the mouths of liars will be stopped." Psalm 63:9-11

The ruler of this age is the enemy of our souls (Jn 12:31, Rev 12:10). The flesh and blood struggle is a sign that the true battle is against rules, authorities, cosmic powers over this present darkness, and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places (Eph 6:12). Our enemy roams the earth seeking to devour (1 Pet 5:8). But his fate is sure (Col 2:15).

Our lives are not something we need to defend, but instead to surrender. To die daily is the way to true life – life to the full (Matt 10:39, Jn 10:10). We need not fear those who destroy the body but live in reverent fear of the One who will transform our lowly bodies to be like His heavenly body (Matt 10:28, Phil 3:21).

Rescue is sure for all of God’s people. And like King David in Psalm 63, our rescue will resound with a song of praise:

‘Worthy are You to take the scroll and to open its seals, for You were slain, and by Your blood, You ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation, and You have made them a kingdom and priests to our God, and they shall reign on the earth (Rev 5:9-10).’ Amen.

Resting,

AB