Read the transcript from today's video devotional.
Do you ever wake up in the morning and you just think "I got a meeting to go to"? You're just laying there in your bed, your head is still on the pillow, and you think about "I've got to get breakfast. I've got to maybe mow the lawn. My lawn looks like a jungle." Your mind kind of speeds up to the rest of the day and you think about another meeting that you have. "Oh, by the way, I have that doctor's appointment. And, oh, by the way, that comment I made to that person yesterday—I have a feeling that they're kind of frustrated at me." You're just still laying on your pillow in your bed. Who is talking to you before you even get out of bed?
You know who's talking to you. Yourself is talking to you.
I love what Martin Lloyd-Jones says. He says that most of our unhappiness comes from life because we're listening to ourselves and not talking to ourselves. Think about that. How much time transpires in your day? In my day? Where I just have this voice continuing to talk to myself instead of me telling myself what to think and how to act?
The Truth About Self-Focus vs. God-Focus
I love our Verse of the Day, Psalm chapter 42, verse 11. It says, "Why am I discouraged? Why is my heart so sad? I will put my hope in God! I will praise Him again—my Savior and my God." This verse gives tremendous truth for us. Very simply, self focus saddens us, but God focus gladdens us.
I'm going to give you two quick points. He says right there in the verse, "Why am I so discouraged? Why is my heart so sad?" Have you ever been there? Discouraged? Sad? Here's why I get there sometimes—because we're listening to ourselves continually tell ourselves doubtful, discouraging, depressing thoughts. You, my friend, have a choice. I have a choice. Will we listen to those thoughts, or will we do something else? Will we not just have self telling us how to think?
Secondly, as the verse says, it says, "I will put my hope in God! I will praise Him again—my Savior and my God." Self-focused saddens us, but a God focus gladdens us. I mean, again, look at what He says. I'm going to put my hope in God. I'm going to praise Him again, my Savior and my God.
Making the Daily Choice
You have a choice every day. I have a choice every single day. Will I try to have my focus be on God? Or will I unconsciously, often let my self tell me how to think? That's why it's important. As Joshua chapter one says, "Be strong and courageous. Do not let the book of the law depart from your mouth, but meditate on it day and night."
Again, as you think about this verse—our Verse of the Day—self focus will sadden us, and God focus can gladden us. Do you ever notice why? As you think about your life, why do you struggle? Why do I struggle at times so much? It's because we're listening to ourselves instead of telling ourselves how to think.
May the Word of God transform you, as Romans chapter 12 says, by the renewing of our mind, so we can be a person who continues to push away self. Self, you are never supposed to solve your own problems. Focus on God. He is the One who wants to help you with your problems.
Let's go ahead and glorify Jesus Christ and make much of Him today.
