Fixations

Prayer: Dear Lord God, who is there in heaven but You?! May Your name be praised on my lips today. May I declare Your honor and glory to all that I see, both with my words and my actions. Please enliven my faith through prayer and Bible study with the power of Your Sprit and create a rich faith within me. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.

Read: Psalm 73 
http://www.esvbible.org/Psalm 73

Think about It: One of the quirky aspects of our brains is that we can become fixated on a subject, a person, an event; just about anything can capture our imagination. Then we funnel our physical, emotional, and spiritual energy in the  direction of our obsession. This is almost always how sin gets a grip on us. It begins as a small idea that rumbles around in our mind until we bring that thought into action and sin takes full bloom in our lives. The writer of Psalm 73 acknowledges just such a path in his own life. His stumbling block is the riches and prosperity of the wicked. He allows jealousy just a moment of purchase in his heart and the obsession begins. Interestingly, he knows it to be a path that will lead to his destruction, but he struggles anyway. You have to love the complete honesty of the Scriptures. Just because something is difficult or unsavory doesn’t mean it isn’t dealt with openly. The only one who stood up to the rigors of such temptation and succeeded was our Savior, Jesus; even though Satan through his best at Jesus, there was no sin or failure. We, on the other hand, may not be able to claim such victory all the time.

The Apostle Paul addresses this problem on numerous occasions in his letters to the Church. His advice goes back to the very beginning of sin’s trail – the mind. When we are able to keep our minds focused on Christ and His will, we are far less apt to fall into sinful behaviors and patterns. Allowing these passages to seep into your core will give you tools and weapons when sin lurks at your door.

Colossians 3:1—If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.

Philippians 4:8—Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.

It’s important to remember that we are not on a path of self-improvement. There will never come a time when “you have arrived” at a place where sin no longer is a problem in your life. As long as you breath, you will be in need of a Savior and we are blessed, for God has provided exactly what we need in the person of Jesus Christ and His redeeming work. But we can take measure to daily surrender our minds and hearts to the Lord, using the tools He has given us to accomplish the task – prayer, His Word, and Christian brothers and sisters.

Prayer: “But for me it is good to be near God; I have made the Lord God my refuge that I may tell of all Your works.” (Psalm 73:28) [Might be a good verse to memorize today!]

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