Not a "New Year's Resolution," but a "Refocus"

While many are still wishing you a happy and prosperous new year and asking about your New Year’s resolutions, I want to wish you a "Refocus." Unusual? Not really. That idea is as old as the ancient Scriptures.  Let me explain. Back in the days of Jeremiah, the prophet, "the word of the Lord came" to him with a message not only to the Jewish people, but also to the world. As I have been studying the word that God gave to Jeremiah, I see how absolutely relevant it is for us today.

What was the message? In essence, it was that the people had quit focusing and trusting in God's care for them. They had found other ways to find security. Although the means of that security looks different today, I believe we face the same issue. I believe many have good hearts towards God and attend a church or congregation, and would even say that they know what the Scriptures say. In my opinion, there is a breakdown between knowing what Scriptures say and living what they say. When we don't live  according to what God's Word to us says, then when setback come our way, we blame God and we don't know how to trust Him through the difficulties.

As an example, many were frightened of the Mayan prediction of the end of the world...but if you know the Word of God, you would have known that was false information. You can trust that God's Word is true, and there would be no need to fear the false predictions. When you face loss of job or home, when you face illness or death of a loved one, when you face something difficult, in whom will you trust?  Do you know the God of the Scriptures well enough to trust Him instead of your "other securities?" Are you waiting for the difficult times to come your way before you actually begin trusting God? The people in Jeremiah's day did just that...they were not prepared for the hardships they were about to face.

Would you consider a "Refocus" now? Would you consider refocusing on God's Word and living what it says and trusting God through your difficulties?