Focusing on Truth

“Holy, holy, holy is the LORD Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory.” Isaiah 6:3

“Turn your eyes upon Jesus, Look full in His wonderful face. And the things of earth will grow strangely dim, In the light of His glory and grace.” Helen Howarth Lemmel

 

  • Make a warm drink, grab your book and a journal, and find a comfortable place to have your quiet time. Make yourself cozy, take a few deep breaths, and ask God to bless your study today.
  • Read Isaiah 55:8-9, Joshua 1:9, and Romans 8:28. Reflect on God’s loving- kindness and faithfulness.

Focusing on Truth

Have you ever sat in a room (or looked at a social media page) full of people who seemed to have it all together, and thought how different they are from you and that surely no one else has the same struggles you do? I have, plenty of times. That is the result of shame: the ugly, hidden feeling that tears apart our relationships, preventing us from reaching out to new friends or sharing our hearts with old ones. It pushes us to strive to be something we’re not, out of fear that who we really are is not good enough.

The worst part about shame is that it tends to be rooted in fact. I started following Jesus halfway through college, and so I had a few years of poor decisions with which to reconcile. I spent the better part of a decade circling back to that place and seeking healing and forgiveness for the distant past. For a long time, I didn’t even realize I was stuck in such a toxic cycle. Beating myself up seemed necessary to atone for my sins, but that is only false humility, which is the opposite of what God wants from us. I was focused more on myself than on God, which left me shamefully
aware of my inadequacies, constantly reliving the pain of my past choices and experiences. I thought I was humble, but I was actually fixing my thoughts and prayers almost entirely on myself. I was ignoring the complete forgiveness and grace Jesus extended to me, and I was living in my own self-constructed purgatory instead.

But now, I know the key to fighting and overcoming that feeling of shame. We have the power to alter our own reality by letting go of our troubles and insecurities and instead focusing on worshipping God. If we keep our eyes on all that is beautiful and good, we can allow God’s goodness to seep into the difficult and painful places in our lives. In Isaiah 6:3, the angels proclaim, “Holy, holy, holy is the LORD Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory.” The world is also full of sin and sadness, but the angels chose to bask in God’s glory and see all of creation in light of that glory. I’m not telling you to live in a fantasy world of denial, but so often we choose to overlook the beauty God has crafted around us—the embrace of our sweet children, the warm sun on our faces—and focus our thoughts on burdens and stressors.

Worshipping is like choosing to go outside and enjoy a warm summer day even though you have a messy house to clean. You’re not necessarily in denial of the piles of dishes and laundry that await you inside the house, but it’s easier to ignore your burdens when you’re basking in the sun. Then, when you’re ready to go back inside, you’ll have renewed energy and motivation to tackle your chores. Worshipping God is our way of transcending this broken, sinful world and focusing on its perfect, loving Creator. Romans 12:12 tells us, “Do not conform to the ways of the world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.” Renew your mind through worship, and you will be free to live freely in grace.

Sweet friends, God sees you as full of potential and covered in forgiveness and grace. Draw near to Him; focus on the truth of His love, power, and provision. Then You will learn to see yourself the way He sees you and live out the plan He has for you, a life of freedom and purpose.

Blessings and Love,

Heather Doolittle

Questions to Ponder

  • How do you choose to view the world? How do you choose to view God? Do you see Him as a mighty, yet loving, Father who works all things for good?
  • Are you able to truthfully and joyfully declare that the whole earth is filled with God’s glory? If not, are you keeping your eyes on Him and looking for His love and beauty woven throughout creation?
  • What burdensome thoughts can you release to live a more abundant life? Give those negative thoughts to God, replace them with scriptural Truth, and thank Him for His continual mercy!

Faith-Filled Ideas

When we worship God for who He is, we re-center our minds on the ultimate Truth. The statements and verses below are foundational to Christianity, but it is easy to forget them when life happens. Write the four verses below (or any others that will encourage you and remind you of the Truth) on sticky notes, and put them in a place where you will see them every day. Each day, read them aloud, and thank God for the encouraging truth in His Word.

Make it a point to teach your kids about at least one of these verses this week. Pray and look for an opportunity to apply God’s Word to their lives and in their struggles, so that they will internalize God’s message of love.

  • God is good even though He allows bad things to happen in the world (Isaiah 55:8-9).
  • God is always there, loving us and guiding us even when we feel alone and abandoned (Proverbs 3:5-6).
  • God has good plans for those who love and follow Him even when life seems hopeless (Romans 8:28).
  • God has good plans for you (Colossians 3:12).
Heather Doolittle
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