Focusing on The Meaningful

In the past few days, I have seen several messages about a particular topic. You know what that means. God is talking to me again. He is trying to remind me of something. This happens a lot when I am in close contact with Him.

I am being reminded that the circumstances of life, my successes and failures, the ups and downs of this world are not what really matter. What does matter is the love of God. I am being reminded to focus on God, His love, and His kingdom. That’s what means the most. And the ironic part is that, when I focus on God and His kingdom, presence, and righteousness, the other things all fall into place. The circumstances are positive. There are far more successes than failures, and far more ups than downs.

I’ve already seen the positive benefits since I’ve refocused on the meaningful. When I see and focus on God in others, the relationships are good. When I feel God’s presence in me, I feel a wonderful peace that matters far more than any circumstances.

I am not saying that life doesn’t matter. We have every right to celebrate the great times and mourn the bad. However, what matters so much more is the inner world. God’s presence is in you and with you. Place your focus there and you will experience heaven on earth more often than not. I know from experience this is true. Enjoy the blessings 🙂

Taking Control of Your Life

I officially have a new theme to live by as this rapidly moving, still young year continues. It’s from a quote that I read somewhere that says this…”instead of responding to life, let life respond to you”.

I don’t know exactly who said this. I do know that, like many excellent ideas God wants to implant in my mind, I’ve heard a similar message on several occasions in a short period of time.

Think for a moment how empowering this idea is. We have the power to control of our lives. It’s as simple as that. However, too many of us continue to allow the circumstances of life guide us. We are ruled by circumstances (many of them negative) and we feel like we lack the control to handle them. When you do things the other way around, it is much more in your control.

You may ask, “isn’t my life supposed to be in God’s control?” Ultimately, the answer is yes. However, He provides us with a free will of our own. I have learned that we are responsible to use this will correctly. It’s a matter of using our will, allowing God to do His thing, and working together to live the life we were intended for.

Ok, next question… “how do I take control and create my life”? It all starts in the mind. It’s a matter of focusing on things as you want them to be, or believe they should be. It’s a matter of holding those thoughts, visions, and corresponding emotions as much as you can. The more you do that, the more it becomes reality. When you start to believe in its reality, you take the action steps necessary to make it happen.

The reality is that your current life, as good or bad as it is, is mostly a result of the mindset you’ve had up to this point. Yes, I realize life hands us some bad circumstances that are not a result of just negative thinking. And I know it goes the other way too. However, for the most part, your present life is a result of your past thoughts.

The great news is that you can change the course of your life NOW! If your past thoughts have created what you have now, your present thoughts can create your future. The better news is that you have full control of what you allow to be a part of your mindset. Will a positive mindset eliminate all negative situations? I’d be unrealistic to answer that question yes. However, even when negative events occur, if you respond positively and maintain an optimistic frame of mind, you can quickly move on from those events and continue creating the life you desire.

I have learned the importance of taking regular time outs during the day to check the quality of my thoughts. I recommend you do the same. Take regular times to focus on the good things you have to be thankful for now, and on the great things you want to see and be in your life in the future.

I can tell you from experience that when you live this way, you will feel much more in control of your life. Remember that you have power over your life, and it needs to respond to you. It’s not the other way around. Work hand in hand with God. Do all you can do, and surrender the parts you can’t handle and control to Him. Life will respond to you, and you will live miracles. Enjoy the blessings 🙂