{"id":5629,"date":"2021-08-06T22:11:51","date_gmt":"2021-08-06T22:11:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.churchtoolbox.org\/?page_id=5629"},"modified":"2021-08-06T22:11:51","modified_gmt":"2021-08-06T22:11:51","slug":"staying-focused","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.churchtoolbox.org\/staying-focused","title":{"rendered":"Staying Focused"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><div class=\"fusion-fullwidth fullwidth-box fusion-builder-row-1 fusion-flex-container nonhundred-percent-fullwidth non-hundred-percent-height-scrolling\" style=\"--link_hover_color: #86c3e3;--link_color: #2a3c8e;--awb-border-sizes-top:0;--awb-border-sizes-bottom:0;--awb-border-sizes-left:0;--awb-border-sizes-right:0;--awb-border-radius-top-left:0px;--awb-border-radius-top-right:0px;--awb-border-radius-bottom-right:0px;--awb-border-radius-bottom-left:0px;--awb-padding-top:0px;--awb-padding-right:0px;--awb-padding-bottom:0px;--awb-padding-left:0px;--awb-margin-top:0px;--awb-margin-bottom:0px;--awb-background-image:radial-gradient(circle at center center, rgba(227,166,48,0.25) 50%,#ffffff 100%);;\" ><div class=\"fusion-builder-row fusion-row fusion-flex-align-items-center\" style=\"max-width:calc( 1100px + 0px );margin-left: calc(-0px \/ 2 );margin-right: calc(-0px \/ 2 );\"><div class=\"fusion-layout-column fusion_builder_column fusion-builder-column-0 fusion_builder_column_1_1 1_1 fusion-flex-column\" style=\"--awb-padding-right:0px;--awb-padding-left:0px;--awb-bg-size:cover;--awb-width-large:100%;--awb-margin-top-large:0px;--awb-spacing-right-large:0;--awb-margin-bottom-large:0px;--awb-spacing-left-large:0;--awb-width-medium:100%;--awb-order-medium:0;--awb-spacing-right-medium:0;--awb-spacing-left-medium:0;--awb-width-small:100%;--awb-order-small:0;--awb-spacing-right-small:0;--awb-spacing-left-small:0;\"><div class=\"fusion-column-wrapper fusion-column-has-shadow fusion-flex-justify-content-flex-start fusion-content-layout-column\"><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"fusion-fullwidth fullwidth-box fusion-builder-row-2 fusion-flex-container nonhundred-percent-fullwidth non-hundred-percent-height-scrolling\" style=\"--awb-border-radius-top-left:0px;--awb-border-radius-top-right:0px;--awb-border-radius-bottom-right:0px;--awb-border-radius-bottom-left:0px;\" ><div class=\"fusion-builder-row fusion-row fusion-flex-align-items-flex-start\" style=\"max-width:1144px;margin-left: calc(-4% \/ 2 );margin-right: calc(-4% \/ 2 );\"><div class=\"fusion-layout-column fusion_builder_column fusion-builder-column-1 fusion_builder_column_1_1 1_1 fusion-flex-column\" style=\"--awb-bg-size:cover;--awb-width-large:100%;--awb-margin-top-large:0px;--awb-spacing-right-large:1.92%;--awb-margin-bottom-large:0px;--awb-spacing-left-large:1.92%;--awb-width-medium:100%;--awb-order-medium:0;--awb-spacing-right-medium:1.92%;--awb-spacing-left-medium:1.92%;--awb-width-small:100%;--awb-order-small:0;--awb-spacing-right-small:1.92%;--awb-spacing-left-small:1.92%;\"><div class=\"fusion-column-wrapper fusion-column-has-shadow fusion-flex-justify-content-flex-start fusion-content-layout-column\"><div class=\"fusion-separator fusion-full-width-sep\" style=\"align-self: center;margin-left: auto;margin-right: auto;margin-top:25px;width:100%;\"><\/div><div class=\"fusion-title title fusion-title-1 fusion-title-center fusion-title-text fusion-title-size-two\" style=\"--awb-text-color:#1f3657;--awb-margin-bottom:10px;--awb-sep-color:#e3a630;\"><div class=\"title-sep-container title-sep-container-left\"><div class=\"title-sep sep-single sep-solid\" style=\"border-color:#e3a630;\"><\/div><\/div><span class=\"awb-title-spacer\"><\/span><h2 class=\"title-heading-center fusion-responsive-typography-calculated\" style=\"margin:0;--fontSize:50;line-height:1.29;\"><p style=\"text-align: center;\">Staying Focused<\/p><\/h2><span class=\"awb-title-spacer\"><\/span><div class=\"title-sep-container title-sep-container-right\"><div class=\"title-sep sep-single sep-solid\" style=\"border-color:#e3a630;\"><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"fusion-text fusion-text-1\"><p style=\"text-align: center;\">by Shannon Steuerwald<\/p>\n<p>While in college during special meetings at our little church in Wisconsin, I heard an evangelist speak on Psalm 73.\u00a0 The message was about learning to understand and respond to the success of those that are evil.\u00a0 Every time I read Psalm 73, I think of that message, even though I heard it over fifteen years ago.\u00a0 David\u2019s struggle is not uncommon to today\u2019s generation of Christians.\u00a0 I find myself easily falling into discouragement, frustration, and even envy when I observe the world around me.\u00a0 Just recently I read Psalm 73 again and jotted down some truths for me to meditate on throughout my day.<\/p>\n<p>David does a character sketch on foolish people, and the list is quite intense as David describes these wicked people that seem to always succeed in life.<\/p>\n<p>Verse 6: \u201cpride surrounds them as a chain\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cviolence covers them as a garment\u201d<\/p>\n<p><em>They are prideful and violent.<\/em><\/p>\n<p>Verse 7:\u00a0 \u201ceyes stand out with fatness\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201chearts possess all they could wish\u201d<\/p>\n<p><em>They are covetous and self-indulgent.<\/em><\/p>\n<p>Verse 8:\u00a0 \u201ccorrupt\u201d;<\/p>\n<p>\u201cspeak loftily\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cspeak wickedly concerning\u00a0oppressions\u201d<\/p>\n<p><em>They are evil and selfish.\u00a0 They advertise their wickedness.<\/em><\/p>\n<p>Verse 9:\u00a0 \u201cspeak against the heavens\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201ctongue walketh through the earth\u201d<\/p>\n<p><em>They are blasphemous and popular in the world.<\/em><\/p>\n<p>David truly was agonizing over the success of these people.\u00a0 He found their blasphemy but apparent success difficult to understand.\u00a0 Verse 11 shows us the extent of pride these evil people had when they began to speak sarcasm through their questioning:\u00a0 \u201cHow does God know?\u201d\u00a0 and \u201cIs there knowledge in the Most High?\u201d\u00a0 Their questioning taunted the very faith of David, and David was \u201cplagued\u201d and \u201cchastened\u201d over the success of these people.<\/p>\n<p>Verse 17 was the turning point in David\u2019s frustrations\u2014\u201cUntil I went into the sanctuary of God; then understood I their end.\u201d\u00a0 David\u2019s complete attitude changed from confusion to victory.\u00a0 He realized through being in God\u2019s presence the end result of wickedness.<\/p>\n<p>Verse 18: \u201cset in slippery places\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201ccast down to destruction\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Verse 19: \u201cbrought into desolation\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cconsumed with terrors\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Verse 20:\u00a0 \u201cdespised by God\u201d<\/p>\n<p>David had one of those dahhhhhhh! moments.\u00a0 He says in verse 22, \u201cSo foolish was I, and ignorant.\u201d\u00a0 David also discovered from his visit to the sanctuary the end of the righteous:<\/p>\n<p>Verse 23:\u00a0 \u201ccontinually before God\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cheld by my right hand\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Verse 24:\u00a0 \u201cguided with counsel\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201creceived in glory\u201d<\/p>\n<p>David did not stop there.\u00a0 I noticed at the end of the chapter how he applied what he learned to his own life. His reaction to this knowledge is a lesson for all of us.\u00a0 David desired God\u2019s presence, recognized God\u2019s strength and portion, realized God\u2019s power over the wicked, and drew near to God by placing his trust in God.\u00a0 David went from confusion and possible anger at God (for allowing the wicked to succeed) to really seeing the end result of not only the wicked but also the righteous.<\/p>\n<p>There are many lessons that can be learned. First, go to church often to learn and to be reminded of God\u2019s goodness and power. Secondly, pray often that our children are caught in their sin so that their sin is not left unchecked and flourishing. Finally, apply the knowledge of God\u2019s Word to our daily lives, and find comfort in God\u2019s just and perfect ways.<\/p>\n<p>I think, though, that the beginning of chapter 73 struck me the hardest when David began by describing the unashamed actions of the wicked.\u00a0 It was as if David was saying, \u201cGod, these people just don\u2019t get into trouble like I do.\u00a0 They get away with their evil!\u00a0 They don\u2019t seem to bear the consequences of sin.\u201d I am sure David was thinking about his past life and wondering why some people just get away with sin and seem to prosper despite it, and others are caught and punished.<\/p>\n<p>The New Testament was not written when David penned Psalm 73, but I am reminded of Hebrews 12:5-7 and the assurance that passage gives us that our chastening and our trials exist because God loves us and desires us to be holy.\u00a0 I am sure David learned this principle in his life and taught it to his children because Solomon alluded to it in Proverbs 3.<\/p>\n<p>So today I plan to spend a little bit more time in prayer asking the Lord to:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>continue to keep my sins checked<\/li>\n<li>help me stay focused on God\u2019s blessings for the righteous<\/li>\n<li>keep me content in God\u2019s care<\/li>\n<li>remind me to be patient and correct in my responses to trials<\/li>\n<li>help me deal with my children\u2019s sins biblically and accurately<\/li>\n<li>keep doing whatever He needs to do to draw me closer to Him.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Psalm 73 began as a journal of disappointment but ended with a resolve to depend on God more.\u00a0 Living independently from God will bring discouragement, envy, depression, and frustration.\u00a0 Living dependently on God brings rest, hope, and courage.<\/p>\n<\/div><div class=\"fusion-separator fusion-full-width-sep\" style=\"align-self: center;margin-left: auto;margin-right: auto;margin-top:25px;width:100%;\"><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":15,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-5629","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.churchtoolbox.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/5629","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.churchtoolbox.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.churchtoolbox.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.churchtoolbox.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/15"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.churchtoolbox.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5629"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.churchtoolbox.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/5629\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5630,"href":"https:\/\/www.churchtoolbox.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/5629\/revisions\/5630"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.churchtoolbox.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5629"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}