2 CORINTHIANS 4:18 NIV “So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.”

There is a sizeable number of people who are convinced they are too evil for God to help, or they have problems that are too big for God to handle. They seem to have more faith in their inability than they do in God’s ability. They seem to have more faith in the problem than they do in God. This happens when we focus on the problem, instead of looking to God who is the solution. As long as we focus on the problem and let it consume our attention, we will have faith in it to defeat us. We will forget “the one who is in us is greater than the one who is in the world (1 John 4:4 NIV). We have a choice on what we focus our attention on, in times of crisis. So, no matter how urgent the problem biting at your heels may seem, God’s answer for you is to look up and focus on His provision. God is bigger than any problem you face and can deliver you from any situation, no matter how bad it is. The devil tries to get us to focus on ourselves and our shortcomings, instead of focusing on Jesus and His ability to carry us through to victory. Whenever the focus is pointing to us, instead of pointing to God, you can be assured the devil has some involvement in those thoughts. You have to make the choice to focus your attention on God instead of on yourself and your problems. Instead of thinking of how evil you are, focus on how good God is. His goodness is more than enough to overcome your evil. Instead of looking at what you lack, look at all God has. And remember He is your Father and He loves you. Have faith in God!

ACTS 20:24 NKJ “But none of these things move me; nor do I count my life dear to myself, so that I may finish my race with joy, and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.”

Every now and then, believers are tempted to give up on their faith in God whenever the least thing seems to go wrong in their lives. The Apostle Paul suffered many things: beatings, stoning, and shipwreck, yet he called them “light afflictions”, (2 Corinthians 4:8-9, 2 Corinthians 4:17). We are enlisted in God’s army, and we are in a battle to enforce the defeat of Satan and free men from his grip. The devil is against us. While we know our victory is sure, we should not expect to never face obstacles or difficulties (2 Timothy 2:3). Let us constantly remind ourselves that there is a life in heaven and a future world. We would be unwise to live as if this life is all there is. While we are on earth to occupy victoriously till Jesus comes, we should not forget eternity and focus only on the present. We must hold on to our faith in God, no matter how things seem to be going at the present. Because of our limited understanding, our ability to evaluate things accurately is limited. Our wonderful Lord Jesus can be trusted. He loved us enough to die in our stead, so we could go free. We must be determined not to be moved by things our enemy does to get us off our faith in God’s Word, for we walk by faith and not by sight (2 Corinthians 5:7). We should not be moved by what we see. We should not be moved by what we feel. We should be moved only by what we believe. We believe the Word of God.

Genesis 19:27 NKJV “And Abraham went early in the morning to the place where he had stood before the LORD.”

 Abraham was known as “the Friend of God” (James 2:23). What a great honor! But we should not overlook the secret of his greatness. He started his day with God. The Bible confirms same pattern with our Lord Jesus, and also King David. Do you start your day with God? The way you get up in the morning sets the tone for your day. So, try this: First thing tomorrow, get alone with God for a few minutes and go over your plans for the day. As you are going over them, you will have some concerns. Just hand them over to Him (Matthew 11:28, 1 Peter 5:8). You may notice a particular problem you are worried about. Ask Him for wisdom. The Bible says He will give it to you gladly (James 1:5). If He does not give you an immediate answer, still trust Him. He has something in mind, something that you have not thought of yet. Many of us start our day anxious and rushed. But you do not have to. You are going to start your day anyway; why not start it with God? You are going to have a first thought anyhow, so why not let it belong to God before whom all our anxieties flee? When you are having a bad day, pause and ask yourself, “Did I start this day with God, or did I forget to include Him (Proverbs 3:5-6)?” Here are some Scriptures you need to consider: “In the morning…I lay my requests before you and wait expectantly” (Psalm 5:3 NIV). “Satisfy us in the morning with your unfailing love, that we may sing for joy and be glad all our days” (Psalm 90:14 NIV). “I rise before the dawning of the morning, And cry for help; I hope in Your word” (Psalm 119:147 NKJV).