Focus

I am a daydreamer, which is not always a bad thing. But lately I feel like I have been daydreaming too much and not focusing enough on what my reality is right now. I tend to worry too much about the future and dwell far too much on the past. I do not spend enough time enjoying the present and focusing on what should be seen and lived out right now.A couple of weeks ago I was at my spin class and the leader kept repeating: "it is not our circumstances that is our problem--it is our thoughts." I am in a really good place, but at times I find my mind wandering off, overthinking everything and trying to prove myself to others. Making my circumstances not so bad but my thoughts dangerous. I am working hard to stop focusing on the opinions of others but to focus my energy on glorifying God and enjoying the life I have been blessed with. Our thoughts have so much power over us, we can be our biggest supporter or our own worst enemy. Sometimes my mind is so cluttered and it is hard for me to pull myself out of my head into the real world.I have mentioned many times before that I journal. I use my journal as a means to just let all those thoughts out; writing them down releases them from my mind and frees me up to focus on reality. I found this wonderful song by King and Country titled "Fix My Eyes," it is a song that proudly professes that we should fix our eyes on God. Many of my devotionals lately have continually told me to focus on God, make God the center of my thoughts. So when I start to drown in my head and I feel like I can no longer swim, I have learned countless times that God will always come to my rescue.Deuteronomy 4:29"From there you will seek the Lord your God, and will find him if you search after him all your heart and soul."Isaiah 26:3-4"Those of steadfast mind you keep in peace--in peace because they trust in you. Trust in the Lord forever, for in the Lord God you have an everlasting rock."Brothers and sisters, I know all too well the power our thoughts have over us, especially if those thoughts are negative. But I also know all too well the beautiful, amazing and restful peace that God can provide us if we just shift our focus to our "everlasting rock." One of the most reassuring facts we have about God is that God never changes and that God is GOOD. We can trust God to take care of us and bring calm to the storms that are sometimes our reality but can often be just in our heads.James 1:17"Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows."Mark 4:37-40A great windstorm arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so that the boat was already being swamped. But he [Jesus] was in the stern, asleep on the cushion; and they woke him up and said to him, "Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?" He woke us and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, "Peace! Be still!" Then the wind ceased, and there was a dead calm. He sad to them, "Why are you afraid? Have you still no faith?"Jesus is capable of calming all storms, even the ones we may be enduring alone in our own heads. Cling to your "everlasting rock" and I know you will make it through your own storms, whether in your head or in reality.May the peace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.