Re-Center Around God
As we prepare to re-center our lives around God, we borrow from Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount where He says:
Matthew 6:23
if your eyes are unhealthy, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness.
Review
If the Light of Christ is not what is shining out from you, what is emanating from you? If your eyes have not been focused on Jesus or in God, what have they been focused on? This is a good review question: What have you been focused on in life?
Repent if Necessary
If your eyes have been focused on something that could be categorized as sin, it's a good time to repent of it and change your focus. If your eyes have been drawn to something that's not sinful in itself, but has become the object of your affection, it may have displaced God in the throne of your heart and needs to be removed. If necessary then, repent and make appropriate changes within your life.
Return (as necessary)
Finally, anytime we repent of sin, it is a good to reaffirm God is our Lord personally, return Him to His rightful place by confessing our faith, and start fresh. While “returning to God,” make a willful choice to focus your eyes on Christ, the author and perfecter of your faith who for the joy set before Him endured the cross - for your sake no less. These are your prayer prompts for today.
Micro-Meditation
Psalm 103:19-22
- The Lord has established his throne in heaven,
and his kingdom rules over all. - Praise the Lord, you his angels,
you mighty ones who do his bidding,
who obey his word. - Praise the Lord, all his heavenly hosts,
you his servants who do his will. - Praise the Lord, all his works
everywhere in his dominion.
Praise the Lord, my soul.
Read the versus of the Psalm.
Mark the words or phrases that catch your attention.
Meditate: talk (or better, write) with God about those words. Ask him to impress things upon your heart and mind; expect responses.
Teaching or Command of God
1 Peter 1:23-24
All the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures. They fell down on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, saying: “Amen! Praise and glory and wisdom and thanks and honor and power and strength be to our God for ever and ever. Amen!”
The Promise
1 Peter 3:21-22
[Baptism] saves you by the resurrection of Jesus Christ, who has gone into heaven and is at God’s right hand— with angels, authorities and powers in submission to him.
Pondering Point
The title Lord Almighty was devised to capture the biblical phrase Lord of Hosts –as in Lord of the Heavenly Hosts – also known as the armies of Heaven.