davidbowerkingwood

Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus

Last week we considered the elusive nature of world peace and the desirability of personal, inner peace and concluded with the Bible’s answer for us in making sure the focus of our lives is more on the unseen rather than what is seen.

Does this actually characterize your life? Do you find yourself more consistently focused on heavenly things, those things which cannot be seen? There will obviously be times when circumstances demand our attention and require we concentrate on the demands of business or family. When those demanding times are past, what is the default focus of your mind at rest? Does your mind automatically return to what is seen or to what is unseen?

A favorite hymn of mine is “Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus;” in the chorus the words are, “Turn your eyes upon Jesus, look full in His wonderful face, and the things of earth will grow strangely dim in the light of His glory and grace.”

Over the years I have proven to myself again and again that I cannot focus on two things at once; if I am busy rejoicing in Jesus I can’t worry about the things of the world, I simply can’t do it!

Paul spells it out for us in Colossians 3:15-16 where he writes: “Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God.”

A Peaceful Commute in Rush Hour Traffic

Although I am now retired, I can vividly recall my 36 year career as a residential home builder and will testify that I experienced times of stress and tension; residential construction is not, by its nature, a stress-free environment. I can recall driving into work in the mornings already fighting the expected battles of the day in my mind and experiencing the tension associated with those battles.

As I mentally stepped back and realized what I was doing I would start singing hymns and would suddenly find myself at peace. I’m sure I looked rather strange to any passing motorists that might notice me but it made all the difference in how I felt and my condition when I arrived at work. My mind was focusing on my gratitude to God and not the imagined battles of the day, most of which never actually happened anyway.

It is extremely unlikely that the world will enjoy peace in 2012; you, however, can enjoy the most refreshing peace available to any human being as you rest in the Lord and exult in His peace.

You have been called to peace, inner peace, the kind the world can’t give; it is yours as a gift from your maker and free for the asking. It is interesting to note that most of the New Testament epistles include an early reference to grace and peace; grace always precedes peace in the epistles as it must in our lives.

God’s grace is always followed by God’s peace; claim this promise God has made to you.

May Your New Year be Filled with Inner Peace and Happiness!