But when he came to his senses, he said, “How many of my father’s hired men have more than enough bread, but I am dying here with hunger! Luke 15:17
Memory can be the first step on your way back. In this verse the prodigal son suddenly remembered his home and is speaking to those who are in the inside but have lost their way. Do you feel you/we have lost our way?
The Bible says, “Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on Thee; and he that ruleth his spirit, than he that taketh a city.” This is a great thought, but have you ever felt just a little frustrated with these kinds of words especially around the New Years when it’s so difficult to keep your mind focused on new objectives, goals or New Year resolutions based on faith? In my preoccupied and sometimes hectic life, I need the patience of a saint to “think on these things” all the time. But I must admit commitment to new goals every year is the engine that makes spiritual growth happen for me, it’s the key part of my heart that drives my being, purpose within this Christian life that seems like a marathon; one we’ll be running the rest of our lives but even in a marathon, you’ll find pit stops where you can have a sense of accomplishment and steps to a finish line.
A day after his checkup a man called his doctor to get his results. The doctor said he had bad news and worse news for him. Which did he want to hear first? The man decided he’d rather hear the bad news first. His doctor said, “The bad news is that you have only twenty four hours to live.” As expected, the man became distraught. He shouted into the phone, “Twenty-four hours to live? I can’t believe this it’s incredible! What could be worse news than this?” The doctor replied, “The worse news is I was supposed to tell you yesterday, but I forgot.”
So what’s the key? How do you stay focused in the midst of turmoil? How do you walk across that room and share your faith with all? Each morning I take just a few precious minutes to mentally visualize on an image from scripture that will set the tone for me the entire day. Jesus was a master at this. When he talked to fishermen he said, “Follow Me. I’ll make you a fisher of men.” They got the picture immediately. When he talked to a farmer, he said, “The Word of God is like seeds. They’ll grow 30, 60, and 100 fold.” He said, “I want to be your shepherd” to people who knew about sheep. Jesus had a way of giving people just the right picture to help them get to their next level of commitment. This mental conditioning helps to slow me down or buoy me up depending on my needs. These precious moments incite me to enthusiasm and calm me with tranquility. Just a few minutes each day can work wonders. By taking time to center ourselves we can approach life in a peaceful state of consciousness. Our faith teaches us that we must lean on our Savior for He alone is our strength and our security. Have you heard my words today? Do you believe it is true? If so the good news is the longer we walk, talk and mentally visualize the model of Christ in His Word, the stronger we become. The more we express our Lord’s faithfulness, the more secure we are. He makes all things new.
My visual picture for you today is, “Fear not. I am with you. I will comfort you and strengthen you. I will direct you.” God Bless You and This Ministry!
