Daily devotional, 22 May 2024 On loop
"Do not remember the former things, Nor consider the things of old. Behold, I will do a new thing, Now it shall spring forth; Shall you not know it? I will even make a road in the wilderness And rivers in the desert."
Isaiah 43:18-19
One of the features that digital technology has brought upon our lives is the ability to play our favorite songs on loop. I was born prior to this technology and I know that I would have to rewind the tape or play its Side B so that I could continue listening. Yes, listening to the cassette, where I recorded my favorite songs.
Our mind is more powerful than digital devices though because it can automatically playback songs, scenes, and memories in our mind even without us willing it. It can even create scenarios that we can think through, or even help us re-live both good and bad experiences we have gone through.
And while all of these are phenomenal, it can be a bane to a person who only remembers the sad things, the misfortunes, and the wrong decisions he has made. It can also be frightening for someone who only gets to imagine the worst things that could ever happen to his future. Likewise, it can be frustrating for someone who has put his happiness on hold for a future he dreams of.
As followers of Jesus, these things should not be what is on loop in our minds. Our Lord does not even want us to reminisce about our painful past. Instead He wants us to move on with our lives so that we could live out His will for us.
For instance, in the story of Job in the Old Testament, Job was struck with misfortunes one after another. In just one day, he experienced the death of all his children and the loss of his livelihood. After that he was even struck with a disease. He was so afflicted and yet he chose to fix His eyes on the Lord. He said that people should not only accept the good from the Lord but also the bad. And so, as he accepted his situation and moved on, God blessed Him once again for his faithfulness.
"And the Lord restored the fortunes of Job, when he had prayed for his friends. And the Lord gave Job twice as much as he had before.Then came to him all his brothers and sisters and all who had known him before, and ate bread with him in his house. And they showed him sympathy and comforted him for all the evilthat the Lord had brought upon him. And each of them gave him a piece of money and a ring of gold. And the Lord blessed the latter days of Job more than his beginning. And he had 14,000 sheep, 6,000 camels, 1,000 yoke of oxen, and 1,000 female donkeys. He had also seven sons and three daughters."
Job 42:10-13
If Job chose to dwell in his past, he would not have seen the blessing the Lord has planned out for Him. When we are bogged down with troubles and disappointing circumstances, it is easy to get stuck. It is easy to continue chewing on the bitter experiences we have gone through even if it is unpleasant.
We find ourselves waking up in the morning with those thoughts already plaguing our mind. At night, we find ourselves having a hard time drifting off to sleep because we keep on rehearsing all the things we could have done so that we would not be where we are. But dwelling on all these things will just bury us alive and would not make us enjoy the life that we still have the privilege of living.
Let us remember that our Lord and Savior came and redeemed us so that we can fully live our lives. We are not to turn over our time to the enemy who only wants us to dwell in shame and regret. We should not allow it to blind our eyes and cover our ears from the sights and sounds of the blessings God has bestowed on us despite our circumstances and sins.
"The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly."
John 10:10
The solution really is to fix our eyes on Jesus. We seek God and allow Him to come and rescue us from the sticky and muddy pit of our grief. Whether we are grieving a pain we have no control over, or we are grieving our life of sinfulness, we should tell ourselves that our Lord gave up the life of His own Son so that we could all start anew.
"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come."
2 Corinthians 5:17
So how do we practically apply this in our own lives? Well, we seek God. We start to live a life surrendered to Him. We seek Him first thing in the morning by humbly coming to Him, confessing our sins, repenting and stepping away from them.
We then try to know His will for us by reading His words, trying to understand it, and knowing how it could apply in our lives. While the bible may be hard to decode for those who are just starting to read it, the Lord has given us the means to understand His words more.
There are devotionals and reading guides available through reputably authored books, websites, and digital applications and platforms. We can also join bible study groups, and of course, worship in church every Sunday. We should also choose what to listen to, and at least try listening to worship or praise music.
"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."
Philippians 4:6-7
What is important is we read His words everyday and try to abide by His commands. We try to think objectively about our situation and avoid worldly things and pursuits that just rob us of our peace. Instead of pouring our time recounting the depressing things in our life, we should count our blessings.
We should also appreciate the fact that the word of God is powerful and will protect us from the evils of anxiety, fear, and worries.
"Great peace have those who love your law; nothing can make them stumble."
Psalm 119:165
So instead of thinking what has gone wrong or what could go wrong, we should read the scriptures. We must memorize bible passages that could strengthen our soul. We should familiarize ourselves with His promises, His promise to love, protect, and fight for us.
Moreover, we should stop focusing on ourselves and instead focus on the plan that God has for us. We are not just living for ourselves, we are here on a mission, and that is to point others to Christ. When we start living our faith, and helping others physically and spiritually we will no longer be stuck thinking about our own troubles but instead we will be busy growing with others in Christ.
St. Paul the Apostle encouraged early Christians to not dwell on the past. To move on from disappointing circumstances so that we can continue with our life mission in Christ and look forward to eternity with Him:
"Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus." Philippians 3:13-14
Thank you for reading through our devotional today. I invite you to ponder on Job 42:10-17 and Philippians 4:4-9 to dig deeper on today’s topic.
Reflection Question: What is on loop in your mind? Are they about joyful and peaceful things, or is it filled with sad or dreadful circumstances?
Conversation with the Lord: Heavenly Father thank you for shielding my heart and mind from anxieties, fears and worries. I know you have commanded me not to fear, and so give me the confidence to continue seeking you, abiding on you and waiting on you, and claiming your promises. Amen.
