Refocus On Pleasing God

A summary of Colossians 3:1-4, says "If you’re serious about living a new life, a resurrection life with Christ, act like it.  Set your sights on the realities of heaven, pursue the things over which Christ preside, where Christ sits in the place of honor at God’s right hand.  Don’t shuffle along, eyes to the ground, absorbed with the things right in front of you, look up and be alert to what is going on around Christ-that's where the action is.  See things from his perspective.  Your old life is dead, your new life, which is your real life-even though invisible to spectators-is with Christ in God.  When Christ, shows up again on the earth, you’ll show up, too-the real you, the glorious you."

Bottom Line:
If you’re serious about live a new life, act like it.  Set your sights on the realities of heaven, pursue the things of Christ, as he presides over all and sits at the right hand of God.  Don’t shuffle along, head to the ground (being self absorbed with little things) look up and be alert to what God is doing around you, that’s where the action is.  See things from his perspective.  Your old life is now dead, your new life (which is your real life) is with Christ in God.  When Christ comes again, you’ll become the real you, glorious.

What does this mean for me:
God is in control and Jesus has dominion over all.  God wants to accomplish a good work with my life. All things are possible when I take my eyes off of myself and refocus it on pleasing God.  In doing this, it can remove the tendency I might have to compare myself with someone else or to be envious of someone else’s situation.

Seeing things from God’s viewpoint will help me recognize that the material things of this world are all temporary.  Instead I should focus on things that will last for eternity - loving, knowing and serving God.

I can shift my focus on what I have and be really content.  (I had the opportunity to practice this last evening in which traffic coming home from work was really bad due to an accident.  When I finally got home, I could tell I was somewhat grumpy.  But remembering my study from the morning reminded me to focus on what I have, a great wife and daughter and so many things he has provided.  I choose to change my frown to a smile and just enjoy what I have.  After doing this, I was able to enjoy an awesome dinner at a Japanese restaurant with my family.)
God has made me unique and for a purpose, re-focusing on pleasing him will allow me to accomplish this.

Today, I ask God to help me see myself as he would see me and to help me accomplish what he created me to be.  I will try to see things from his viewpoint and remind myself that material things of this world aren’t going to last.  Instead I’ll need to focus on relationships, these will last.  I’ll also need to realize that God may have a reason for not giving me what I’d want.  My own way will just distract me from my life’s purpose.  It’s time to get on with life the way he intended it be.