Welcome! This week we are in Chapter 3 “Finding Love that Won’t Fail Even When I Do” of our online study of Renee Swope’s A Confident Heart.
“When we worship something or someone, we give them great worth in our lives and oftentimes we find our worth in them. We also set our focus on them and eventually they become the very thing we look toward to fill us.” (Renee Swope, A Confident Heart)
For days I’ve been coming back to this thought and each time I think of Matthew 6:21. I like both of these versions…
“Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will be also.” (NLT)
“The place where your treasure is, is the place you will most want to be, and end up being.” (The Message)
How often do we try to fill our lives with the treasures of this world? Whether we’re looking to people, positions, or things, they can make us happy for a time, but they can’t fill us or bring us everlasting joy like only Christ can.
Knowing this doesn’t always mean it’s easy. In the world today there are so many temptations. We long for the approval of others. We feel the need to keep up with those around us. There’re always newer and more advanced things coming out to spend money on. It’s easy to get caught up in the ways of the world.
I don’t believe God says we can’t have these things and enjoy them, but when they take our focus off of Him, we can be headed down a path that leads us away from Him. Renee writes “…so many times we look to the gifts instead of the Giver to fill us and fulfill us with lasting security and significance.”
Maybe you can relate to this like I can. My attention can be so centered on something or someone other than Christ that I’ve shifted my focus off of Him. When that happens, I start looking to other people or things to fill me. When they can’t fill me, I feel lost and empty.
The shift in focus to the gifts instead of the Giver can happen quickly—often before I even realize it. So, every day I need to make a conscious effort to find my treasure in Him, and there I will find my security.
Have you written any when-then statements that Renee Swope explains on page 60? Come back later this week when I’ll share one or two that I’ve written, and I hope you’ll share yours by leaving a comment. I agree with Renee—they do help!
In Christ,
Laura
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteI deleted my last post because having another Laura post could be confusing to others so now I'm hoffman784 :)
ReplyDeleteRenee's statement that "You've been trying to earn your value in everything you've done" (51) and "If we are doing well, we feel fulfilled. If we are not doing well, we feel empty and like we have less worth" (58) hits very close to home. I received disappointing news that made me feel like a failure and worthless. I wanted to isolate myself from the pain and shame I felt, as well as from others. Reflecting also upon chapter 2, I can't hide from God and I have no reason to do so. He already knows my fears, doubts, dreams and desires. He knows me and accepts me as I am.
Right now what I need to do is to shift my attention toward Him and find my treasure in Him, as you said Laura. I am not a failure nor am I worthless and it is almost a temptation in itself to give into those notions. None of us are ever truly empty if we remember that God is always present and knows us better than we know ourselves. This week's chapter was a real blessing!
Amen! The enemy wants us to believe that we are failures and worthless. He would love nothing more than for us to hide from God thinking even God thinks these things about us. But nothing could be further from the truth!
ReplyDeleteGod loves us, no matter what we've done or what we're going through and He tells us to come to Him. Whatever disappointing news you've received, Jesus knows what you're going through. He experienced it in His time here on earth.
As I prayed and began to comment, Jeremiah 29:11 came to mind. God doesn't tell us what plans He has for us until the time is right (His timing). But His plans are for our good, to give us a future and a hope. It helps me to remember this, especially when I'm struggling.
In Christ,
Laura