November 8: Tuesday Refocus

“If you want a spiritual life, you must unify your life. A life is either all spiritual or not at all.” - Thomas Merton

We are people of divided time, 

half-hearted affection, 

scattered attention, 

and distorted desires. 

If we are to love the Lord our God with all of our hearts, soul, mind, and strength (Luke 10:27), our lives must echo the prayers of the Psalmist: 

“Teach me your ways, O LORD, that I may walk in your truth; unite my heart to fear your name.” - Psalm 86:11

A spiritual life is a life that is ever seeking to learn from the Master.

A spiritual life walks in God’s truth, not our own truth. 

A spiritual life is a unified life because all of life is spiritual.

A spiritual life lives in fear, and awe of God, rather than man.

Lord, unite these fragmented pieces of our lives for Your glory and our good, and the good of the world. Amen.

Unifying,

AB

November 1: Tuesday Refocus

"Christ comes with a blessing in each hand; forgiveness in one, holiness in the other" - A.W. Pink

When we see, know, and believe that we have been forgiven, holiness should be the growing response. As the Apostle Paul reminds us:

“What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it? Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.” Romans 6:1-4

We do not presume on the riches of God’s kindness, forbearance, and patience, but we desire to be holy as God is holy (Romans 2:4, 1 Peter 1:16). 

Lord, thank You for Your forgiveness. Help us grow in holiness. Amen.

Growing,

AB

October 25: Tuesday Refocus

“There is an end to God’s disciplines, but there is no end to His comforts.” - Ray Ortlund

Sanctification is painful work. It disassembles and destroys those pieces of the flesh we have worked hard to build, keep, and grow. But ‘…the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and chastises every son whom he receives (Hebrews 12:6).” Sanctification and discipline are painful, but they flow from and to Love. And there is perhaps nothing more comforting than the reality that we are loved by God.

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. For as we share abundantly in Christ’s sufferings, so through Christ we share abundantly in comfort too.” 2 Corinthians 1:3-5

God may your anger last a moment, and Your favor a lifetime. Amen 

Comforted,

AB

October 18: Tuesday Refocus

“The only haven of safety is to have no other will, no other wisdom than to follow the Lord wherever He leads.  Let this then be the first step: to abandon ourselves and devote the whole energy of our minds to the service of God.” - John Calvin

We think that safety is removing risk, and building up places of protection, both literally and figuratively. But Jesus says, ‘I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand (John 10:28).’ Safety is not a place but a Person.

We think we are safe when we protect our lives, Jesus says we are safe when we lay down our lives (Matthew 16:25). We think that we are safe when we let go of the things that cause us pain, Jesus invites us to carry a cross (Matthew 16:24). We think that we are safe when our lives are free of burden, Jesus says that his burden is light (Matthew 11:30). If we could truly rest in the safety and security of Christ, how unreservedly we would give ourselves to His service.

Lord, let us rest in You. Giving ourselves over in service and surrender. In Christ’s name, amen.

Safe,

AB

October 11: Tuesday Refocus

“A gospel of reconciliation can only be communicated by a reconciled community.” - E. Stanley Jones

The chasm between one sinful person and another sinful person will never be as eternal as the chasm between a sinful person and a Holy God. But thanks be to God, because in Christ ‘…all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through Him to reconcile to Himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of His cross. And you, who once were alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, he has now reconciled in His body of flesh by His death, in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before Him…” (Colossians 1:19-22).

Let the redeemed of the LORD say so (Psalm 107:2). We must remind ourselves of our own reconciliation to God. We must remind our brothers and sisters in Christ of the way God has reconciled us to Himself. And this reconciliation should be evidence to the world of the life and peace that is available in Christ.

“Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making His appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.” (2 Corinthians 5:20) Amen.

Reconciled,

AB

October 4: Tuesday Refocus

“…suffering can never be solved. It can only be shared in compassion, shared in community, and every effort to put ourselves in charge of the relief effort weakens the very sharing in which our hope resides.” - Parker Palmer

Sorrow, suffering, pain, and death are normal and common living in a world after the Fall of Genesis 3. But we know this is not the world God intended for humanity. Perhaps this is why we resist the reality of brokenness with such force - because we know it is not supposed to be this way. As followers of Jesus, we can rest in the truth that, ‘The last enemy to be destroyed is death.’ Because Jesus died a death to sin ‘…once for all, but the life He lives He lives to God.’ (1 Corinthians 15:26, Romans 6:10).

Knowing that death has died frees us from the need to fix its sway over this already and not yet world. The death of death enables us to suffer with and to weep with those who weep, rather than attempt to fix something Christ will make new (Romans 12:15, Revelation 21:5).

Jesus, as you wept over the grave of your friend Lazarus, knowing full well that you would raise him to life, may we weep with those who weep, knowing that you will one day make all things new once more. Amen.

With,

AB

September 27: Tuesday Refocus

“God is always relaxed.” - A.W. Tozer

The One who spoke the universe into existence sustains it by the word of His power (Psalm 33:9, Hebrews 1:3). He is before all things, and in Him, all things hold together (Colossians 1:17). He is not served by human hands, as though He needed anything since it is God who gives to all mankind life, breath, and everything (Acts 17:25). If He were hungry, he would not tell us for the world and all its fullness belong to Him (Psalm 50:12). He declares the end from the beginning, and His counsel shall stand, and He will accomplish His purpose (Isaiah 46:10). By His Word, he discerns the thoughts and intentions of the human heart (Hebrews 4:12).

There is nothing out of His control.

Nothing that surprises Him.

And there is no wrong that He will not set right (Revelation 21:5).

He is not worried or frantic.

He is not fearful or dismayed.

He invites us to take His easy yoke, and light burden (Matthew 11:30).

Lord, may we rest in You. The One who is always relaxed. Amen.

Resting,

AB

September 20: Tuesday Refocus

“May I seek after an increase of divine love to thee, after unreserved resignation to thy will.” - Puritan Prayer

Love and surrender walk hand-in-hand. Because sacrifice is an indication of the depth of love: “Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.” John 15:13

If we truly understood the depths of God’s mercy, we would have no hesitation in offering ourselves as a spiritual act of worship (Romans 12:1). If we saw how deeply Christ had served us, we would wholeheartedly serve others (Matthew 20:28). If we knew that God first loved us, how constant we would love in response (1 John 4:19).

“Take my will and make it Thine; 

it shall be no longer mine. 

Take my heart, it is Thine own; 

it shall be Thy royal throne.

Take my love, my Lord, I pour

At Thy feet its treasure store.

Take myself, and I will be

Ever, only all for Thee.”

Frances R. Havergal (1836-1879)

May it be so, Lord. Surrender and love are the obvious outward of Your generous love towards us as Your people. In Christ’s name, amen.

Ever, only, all for Thee,

AB

September 13: Tuesday Refocus

“The things we love tell us what we are.” - Thomas Aquinas

Love reveals us. 

Where we spend our time reveals what we value.

Where we spend our money reveals what we desire.

In every pursuit, the desire to be loved.

For the follower of Jesus, we know that love comes not from striving, but by seeing “…what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are…” 1 John 3:1

If every pursuit reveals a desire to be loved, then resting in the lavished love of God reveals our true identity: children of God; and so we are.

Father, may Your love reveal us. May we love You more than life itself. Amen.

Loved,

AB

September 6: Tuesday Refocus

“Love, proceeding from faith, gradually changes the soul, into the likeness of God; and the more it is in exercise the more is that change effected.” - John Owen

Those who know how deeply, how completely, how honestly they have been loved, love in response.

“Therefore I tell you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven - for she loved much. But he who is forgiven little loves little.” And he said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.” Then those who were at the table with him began to say among themselves, “Who is this, who even forgives sins?” And he said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.” Luke 7:47-50

Lord, may we be aware of Your great love for us in the deepest places of our souls. May it change us over and over into the likeness of Yourself. Amen.

Loved,

AB

August 16: Tuesday Refocus

“The spiritual life does not remove us from the world but leads us deeper into it.” - Henri Nouwen

God made everything and called it good (Genesis 1:31). Sin broke, warped, and distorted everything and everyone. This is true for even the people of God - but as the people of God we are also carriers of God’s presence into a sin-sick world (1 Corinthians 6:19). Followers of Jesus are those who are not of this world, but are called to be a city on a hill, salt and light, and to make disciples of the whole world (John 17:16, Matthew 5:13-14, Matthew 28:19-20).

As carriers of the presence of God, there is no sacred and secular dividing line. All of life is spiritual and all of life is lived before the face of God. For the follower of Jesus, a life that is lived to the glory of God will always be a life lived for the good of others. Because abiding in the life of Christ becomes a lifeline to a broken world.

Lord, may You not remove us from the world, but enable us to abide deeply in You, amen.

Coram Deo,

AB

August 9: Tuesday Refocus

“Solitude well practiced will break the power of busyness, haste, isolation, and loneliness.” - Dallas Willard

The more we fill our lives, the emptier they become.

The more we empty our lives, the richer they become.

Solitude may seem the opposite of what we want, but it makes space for that which we truly need. But this is life in the upside-down kingdom of God. It is a Kingdom where Jesus tells us in Matthew 5 that…

The poor in spirit receive the kingdom of heaven (v3).

Those that mourn will be comforted (v4).

The meek will inherit the earth (v5).

Those who hunger and thirst for righteousness will be satisfied (v6).

The merciful will receive mercy (v7).

The pure in heart will see God (v8).

The peacemakers will be called sons of God (v9).

Blessing, rejoicing, and gladness accompany the heavenly reward and kingdom of heaven for those who are persecuted and maligned for the sake of Christ (v10-12).

These are the principles of an upside-down kingdom. A kingdom where the last will be first, the first will be last (Matthew 20:16). A kingdom where to lose your life is to find your life (Matthew 16:25). A kingdom where the proud will be humbled, and the humble will be exalted (Matthew 23:12).

Lord, may what is true of your kingdom be true of our lives. For Your glory, amen.

Amen,

AB