Adjust Your Focus

What have you been focused  on? Do you recognize the significance of the season you’re in? It’s Holy Week, and in many ways, the sovereignty and sacrifice of our Savior has taken a backseat to everything else. In the midst of a pandemic, can you still declare that God is holy? In spite of everything going on around you, can you attest to the fact that God is STILL worthy to be praised! As we look to the significance of Holy Week, Isaiah 53:5 reminds us of the ultimate sacrifice the Lord made for each of us. It reads:  

But He was wounded for our transgressions,
He was bruised for our iniquities;
The chastisement for our peace was upon Him,
And by His stripes we are healed.

In the midst of all the flux going on around us, we must set our sights on Jesus and look to Him for strength. For every sin we’ll ever commit, He’s already paid the price. For any void we could ever need filled, He’s already stood in the gap. For any pain or loss we may experience, the Lord understands, and He feels for us. The power and relevance of the blood of Jesus has not changed and we cannot allow it to be diminished, especially now! During this time of quarantine, we must understand the significance of being cut off from the world in such a sacred season. Money cannot sustain us; the economy is weak. Besides, we can't buy life, happiness, joy, or peace. Material things and social activities cannot satisfy us, due to the quarantine, we have little access to them. Being cut off from the familiar aspects of our lives forces us to find a more powerful source of purpose and fulfillment. Nearly every outlet we have known for external recreation and enjoyment is CLOSED; the only thing we can do is look inward and fix our eyes on Jesus. Heaven is OPEN and there is no shortage of anything. In all the shaking and shifting of political policies and regulations, the only constant we can all depend on is Jesus. William B. Bradbury wrote a song in 1863 that still rings true today. The song is entitled “Solid Rock,” and the first verse is as follows:

 My hope is built on nothing less
Than Jesus’ blood and righteousness;
I dare not trust the sweetest frame,
But wholly lean on Jesus’ name.

The chorus of the song goes on to say,

On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand;
All other ground is sinking sand,
All other ground is sinking sand.

In a time such as now, these words are exactly what we need to hear to minister to every heart and soul around the world. Now more than ever, these powerful lyrics touch us to the very core of our being. As we reflect on these lyrics, each of us is forced to answer this question, “What have you been hoping and leaning on?” Today, we take a moment to readjust the spotlight and redirect our view. During this time of quarantine, may we put our priorities in order and reflect on who Jesus really is!

 Inspirational Prayer:

Lord, wherever we are in our personal lives, we set our sights on You. We look to You for peace, healing, deliverance, and strength. Readjust our spotlight and refocus our view. Grace us to live the life You've called us to live. Help us to see You in all we say and do! In Jesus' name, Amen.