Refocusing on God
Thursday’s Verse:
From Psalm 94:19 ESV
“When the cares of my heart are many, your consolations cheer my soul.”
There I am, Wednesday morning. The sun hasn’t risen in the east, just yet. I’m standing in the bathroom staring at my mug in the mirror, thinking that even though I used my electric shaver the day before, I needed a real shave. From the cabinet, I take out the Dollar Shave Club shave butter, and from the drawer, my razor. I washed my face, applied the shave butter, and began shaving. No problems until I realized I nicked my skin on my jawline and started to bleed a wee bit. Slightly frustrated, I banged my hand on the sink, causing my razor cover to fall to the floor.
I bent down to pick up the cover, and as I raised my head, I whacked it on the side of the sink. Once again, I’m frustrated, and I start wondering why I decided to shave at 4:50 in the morning. Then I noticed it. Where I struck my head on the side of the sink, I am now bleeding. Down my face, onto my shirt, I see blood pouring out of a tiny wound in my head. And I say it was a TINY cut; it was a TINY cut that made me bleed like a stuck pig.
OK. Maybe I didn’t bleed that much. But at the moment, when frustration, anger, and anxiousness were rising within me, any amount of blood was too much.
The writer of Psalm 94 provides a perfect turn from our anxious and frustrating thoughts: focus on God. Our Creator, Redeemer, Sanctifier - the Triune God we praise and worship. Our Father gives us everything to support our lives. His Son redeemed us from the clutches of the devil. And His Holy Spirit directs our hearts away from worries and fear of everyday life onto the continued path that leads to everlasting life.
Our days can be frustrating, even at ten minutes before five in the morning. But our hearts and minds, in these worrisome times, can refocus and give thanks to God for His love, grace, and never-ending mercy.
✝️ A Prayer for Today:
Almighty Father, there are many days when frustration and anger well up inside of me. In those times, may Your Holy Spirit redirect my heart onto the love You’ve shown to me through Your Son, my Savior Jesus Christ.. Amen.
Apostles’ Creed:
I believe in God, the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth.
And in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was buried. He descended into hell. The third day He rose again from the dead. He ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty. From thence He will come to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy Christian Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.
The Lord’s Prayer:
Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name, Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven; give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever and ever. Amen.
Luther’s Morning Prayer:
I thank You, my heavenly Father, through Jesus Christ, Your dear Son, that You have kept me this night from all harm and danger; and I pray that You would keep me this day also from sin and every evil, that all my doings and life may please You. For into Your hands, I commend myself, my body and soul, and all things. Let Your holy angel be with me, that the evil foe may have no power over me. Amen.
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