Paul and the Reminder to Keep “First Things First”

It is extremely easy to worry about outcomes. We panic about illness, money, relationships, along with everything else that seeks to take hold of our time. As a matter of fact, my anxiety about different situations can become so large that I lose sight of my faith. It is challenging to keep my eyes fixed on God when there are so many other things that distract me from my relationship with the Divine. Events overwhelm me, and the rug is pulled out from under my feet. I cry out, “How can I sing the Lord’s song in a strange land?”

The Apostle Paul reminds us that we must remain focused on the One who gives us the power to overcome any obstacle. The peace of Christ opens the door to the reality of God. I am not talking about passivity, but the fuel for courage beyond our own abilities. Faith that can move the biggest stumbling blocks in our path. Paul encourages us to wake up and rely on the living God.

Let us not give way to the chaos that can take control of us in a second, but embrace the loving arms of Christ. We must make a spiritual commitment to discovering our beloved Creator every day. How can we know God’s power when we do not spend time with Him? Our devotion must be laser-focused and not give way to anything that might lead us into darkness.

Grace is free, but it is not easy, for it requires something from us. In the moment of our realization that God saves us from ourselves, we must respond with our whole hearts to the sacred invitation, “Come, follow me.” My prayer this week is that each of our answers to Christ’s call, “Here I am, Lord.” We understand that commitment requires action. Let everything we do reflect the Good News. We are reborn, made alive through our faith in the One who loves us, even in the darkest of circumstances.