Somewhere along the way, the focus changed. We started looking inward instead of upward. We started examining ourselves instead of adoring God.
This is what we forget. The Christian life is not about finding yourself. It is about finding God. It is not about self-awareness. It is about God-awareness.
Somewhere along the way, we started looking inward instead of upward.
The Shift That Happened
Turn with me to the Gospels. Jesus is asked what the greatest commandment is:
"You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.'"
Mark 12:30Love the Lord your God.
Not: Know yourself. Not: Find yourself. Not: Understand yourself.
Love the Lord your God.
This is the upward focus. Not inward. Upward. Toward God.
And then there is this, from the same chapter:
"And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength. This is the first commandment. And the second, like it, is this: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. There is no other commandment greater than these."
Mark 12:30-31Love your neighbor as yourself.
As yourself. Not: Find yourself. Not: Discover yourself.
But: Love your neighbor.
The focus is still outward. Not inward. Upward and outward.
The Inward Focus We Have
And then there is this, from Psalms:
"One thing I have desired of the Lord, that will I seek after: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord, and to inquire in His temple."
Psalm 27:4That I may dwell in the house of the Lord. To behold the beauty of the Lord.
Not: Behold the beauty of myself. Not: Dwell in myself.
Dwell in the house of the Lord. Behold the beauty of the Lord.
This is the upward focus. Not inward. Upward.
Somewhere along the way, we changed. We started looking inward instead of upward.
We started asking: What am I feeling? What am I thinking? What do I want? What do I need?
But the Bible asks: What is God doing? What is God saying? What does God want? What does God require?
The focus changed. From upward to inward. From God to self.
The Upward Life
And then there is this, from Colossians:
"If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth."
Colossians 3:1-2Set your mind on things above.
Not: Set your mind on things inward. Not: Set your mind on yourself.
Set your mind on things above.
This is the upward focus. Not inward. Upward.
And then there is this, from the same chapter:
"For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God."
Colossians 3:3Your life is hidden with Christ in God.
Your life is not found in yourself. It is found in Christ. Hidden with Christ in God.
This is the upward focus. Not inward. In Christ. In God.
The Question That Changes Everything
So what does this mean for us? It means we need a different focus. Not inward. Upward.
Instead of asking: What am I feeling? Ask: What is God doing?
Instead of asking: What do I want? Ask: What does God want?
Instead of asking: How do I find myself? Ask: How do I find God?
Instead of looking inward, look upward.
Somewhere along the way, we started looking inward. But the Bible always points upward.
Let's go back to the upward focus. Let's look upward instead of inward.
Try This Today
Ask yourself honestly: Am I looking inward or upward? Bring that to Him in prayer. Ask Him to help you look upward instead of inward.
Somewhere along the way, we started looking inward instead of upward.
The focus changed from God to self. From upward to inward.
But the Bible always points upward. To God. To Christ. To things above.
Let's go back to the upward focus. Let's look upward instead of inward.
Father, forgive me for looking inward instead of upward. Teach me to set my mind on things above. Let me look upward instead of inward. In Jesus Name, Amen.
With honesty and hope,
Claire