You may have seen Kim Reichhelm, a former member of the US Ski Team, two-time NCAA All American for University of Colorado and the only skier to win the SA, US and World Extreme Skiing Championships in one year, on television skiing down the peak of a treacherous mountain that looks like certain death for anyone who tries to do what she does. Some have died attempting what she does. Others have become seriously injured, but the sport of extreme skiing like a siren is alluring more and more people to the dangers of the challenge.
Tim Etchells writes, “What you focus your eyes on becomes critical in the woods [ he is talking about skiing down hills]. Look at the spaces between the trees - the exits where you hope to be traveling.” Reichhelm, the expert int he sports says, “The secret is not to stare at what you don’t want to hit.”
In other words, don’t focus on what you don’t want! Where you focus matters. An extreme skier who focuses on the trees is more likely to hit the tree because we have tendency to move towards what we focus on. The one looking for the spaces between the trees is going to avoid the obstacles. But it’s hard not to look at the trees because of fear of crashing into them. But ironically when we focus on our fears, we will likely go crashing into them. The good news is that when focus on the open places between them, we will likely to pass by them. So how do you maneuver through life so that you get past the forest of fear without getting a mouth full of tree barks. The bible says, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.” Proverbs 3:5-6
The key is to fix our focus on the truth that God will see us through no matter what! How many of you are paralyzed in the present because you play a movie in your mind of all the bad things that could possibly go wrong in the future? There is always something that can go wrong: losing a job, aging parents, wayward children, illness...etc. It is easy to focus on the trees and not so easy to focus on the open spaces. How can we deal with worries?
We focus on the face of God and in so doing, the problem that at one time seemed so big now looks almost insignificant. We have a promise in the Bible which says, “The Lord knows how to rescue the godly from trials...” 2 Peter 2:9. Isaiah the prophet says, “Can a mother forget the baby at her breast and have no compassion on the child she has borne? Though she may forget, I will not forget you! See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands; your walls are ever before me.” Isaiah 49:15-16
No matter what you go through, our God will see you through them. Change your focus. Begin to concentrate on how big our God is, not how big our problems are. We know that God is able, and that is what we need to focus on. We have the confidence that nothing will happen to us that God cannot handle, and even use for our benefit.
Meditate on the following words..., “The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their cry. . . . The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears them; he delivers them from all their troubles. The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. A righteous man may have many troubles, but the Lord delivers him from them all” (Psalm 34:17-19).
We have the assurance that God cares for us, is watching over us and using even the ugly places in life to do something beautiful.
What are you focusing on today? What is before you that seems to turn its ugly head over and over again? Focus on God who makes us “lie down in green pastures”. Focus on God who leads us to quiet waters to refresh our soul. Blessings.
No comments:
Post a Comment