Mark Batterson:
The circumstances you complain about become chains that imprison you. And worship is the way out. Worship reframes our problems and refocuses our lives. It helps us get through the bad days by reminding us of how good God is. And when you are worshipful, your eyes are more open to notice the miracles that are happening around you all the time. One way or the other, your focus determines your reality. The outcome of your life will be determined by your outlook on life.
This was taken from our online sermon today. I thought it was such a good reminder of how we should be living our lives, especially in the midst of Covid19 and how it has impacted all of us in a variety of ways, some of which are good and some very bad. Although we have lost many freedoms, we still have our minds with the ability to think and create our own world. This is where we can get into serious trouble. I repeat, The outcome of your life will be determined by your outlook on life.
I don’t know about you but these days I waiver between depression and joy, between hopelessness and faith. You may be in a similar frame of mind. The words of Mark Batterson, an American pastor and author, serve to remind us how refocusing can bring us ultimately to a better life. Better in circumstances? Maybe not. But better in outlook which produces thoughts and actions that will lead to surviving our circumstances and growing from them. It can bring us closer to God and what is most meaningful in life.
Yes, but how do you go about refocusing your mind in the middle of a life that is chaotic, uncertain and unfair? When your eyes tell you that you are losing your grip on the good life and may never recover? How do we rise above and get to that place of freedom, peace and joy?
Mark is offering us a way to get there, worship God. For me, worship is listening to Christian radio (literally all I listen to now, with very few exceptions). Or singing along at church, which I love to do. Now church is online but they still perform the songs for us. To me, worship is giving praise to God. It can be expressed in song, in how I live my life, reading the bible or conversing with God, generally through prayer. Honoring the father in whatever way feels right to you.
When Paul was in prison in chains with his arms stretched to their painful most for hours, what did he do? Did he complain? Did he give up on God? Did he make the decision to change careers? All would have been natural and normal responses under the circumstances. But no, he sang hymns! He praised God in the middle of his great suffering. The Bible is filled with examples of people seeing past their suffering to a place of giving gratitude and honor to God. The greatest of these examples of course is Jesus himself.
Change your focus in order to change your reality. Bring back joy to your life through worship. Then see how your life changes. Stay healthy and may God bless you.