Got your heart set?
Whatever your heart’s desire–where is it? On earth, or in heaven?
Colossians 3:1 (NIV)
Set your hearts on things above, where Christ is,
seated at the right hand of God.
I’m tired of it all.
Bad news.
Politics.
Social distancing.
Wars and rumors of wars.
Psalm 31:1-2 (NIV)
In you, Lord, I have taken refuge;
let me never be put to shame;
deliver me in your righteousness.
Turn your ear to me,
come quickly to my rescue;
be my rock of refuge,
a strong fortress to save me.
I need to tune in less to the noise of our culture, tune in more to the Word of the Lord.
Turn Your ear to me, Lord, and tune my ear to You. Be my shelter, my energy, my perseverance, my get-up-and-go, in Jesus’ name.
Hebrews 12:2 (TPT)
We look away from the natural realm and we fasten our gaze onto Jesus who birthed faith within us and who leads us forward into faith’s perfection.
With Christ at the center, all else falls into perfect place.
Here’s an interesting description of a self-centered soul:
“Self-will so ardent and active
that it will break a world to pieces
to make a stool to sit on.“
Richard Cecil (1495-1553)
Where’s your center? On you, or on the world?
Sir Richard was an English nobleman, Master of Burghley (a 16th century country house, something like the fictional Downton Abbey), royal page and Groom of the Robes (in charge of the king’s ceremonial attire).
You are a target. The enemy’s arrows are aimed at your weakest point.
Ephesians 6:16 (NIV)
Take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.
Shield up, front and center! 
The world maps of my childhood classrooms
put the United States front and center.
What does God’s see?
John 3:16
For God so loved the world . . .
It’s simple. God sees the whole world.
Last Friday, I realized every news report I read was centered here in the United States. Surely, I thought, there were newsworthy incidents elsewhere in the world.
I looked harder:
God knows, the world doesn’t revolve around me. 
Political storms,
firestorms,
health storms,
wind storms,
rain storms–
Do you beg God to shelter you from the storm?
Do you see Him as your shelter in the storm?
Psalm 57:1 (NIV)
Have mercy on me, my God, have mercy on me,
for in you I take refuge.
I will take refuge in the shadow of your wings
until the disaster has passed.
So much anger.
So much aggravation.
So much arguing.
What’s a Christian to do?
Pray!
Luke 6:27-28 (NIV)
Love your enemies,
do good to those who hate you,
bless those who curse you,
pray for those who mistreat you.
Got a coworker who rubs you the wrong way? A neighbor who mocks the election sign in your yard? A relative who turns every family gathering into a family argument? Move that person to the top of your prayer list.
Don’t ask God to change them. Ask God to bless them. Love them, in Jesus’ name.
Arrogance makes for a shaky foundation.
“If you plan to build a tall house of virtues,
you must first lay deep foundations of humility.”
Augustine (354-430)
Let’s build our nation on solid rock.
Augustine had been a wild child, coming to Christ at age 31. After his change of heart, he became a deep thinker, master orator and writer (Confessions, City of God, On Christian Doctrine). He left behind a long-lasting foundation of humble wisdom.
