A fixated focus.

     Looks like the Mayans were wrong...again.  In spite of movies and opinions about 2012, 2013 has arrived, and with it comes all the opportunities and challenges of a new year.  It's very exciting to think about what might happen in the upcoming year.  But today we'll look at a passage from scripture that should provide encouragement for us in this year and in the years to come.

     One of the hardest things people struggle with is a feeling of aloneness.  Let me clarify what I mean by aloneness, however.  The aloneness I'm describing makes a person feel alone in their struggles, as if he or she is the only one who has ever gone through it.  Although I cannot look at every person's heart individually, I do know that everyone, from pastor to layman, has their own individual spiritual struggles.  But that's not to put any shame on anyone.  Just because you struggle, be it with temptation, fear, doubt, or anything else, does not mean you're a worse Christian than someone else.  It means you're human, and what's more important than condemning yourself for your struggle is this.  Look at 1 Peter 5:8-11.

     "Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.  Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world.  But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you.  To Him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.  (NKJV)

     Did you catch that?  You're not alone.  Someone else on earth has gone through the same thing as you are going.  That person may be me, or someone else.  But you're not alone, nor are you inferior to all other Christians.  The most "perfect" of us has been there.  The fact is that the enemy has recycled his strategies.  You're not going through something he hasn't tried on someone else before.  In fact, listen to the words of Ecclesiastes 1:9-10

"That which has been is what will be,
That which is done is what will be done,
And there is nothing new under the sun.
 Is there anything of which it may be said,
“See, this is new”?
It has already been in ancient times before us. (NKJV)

    Sure, the enemy is persistent enough, but the fact is that he tries the same things over and over.  He'd like to destroy you or at least distract you, but you can resist him.  "Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil." (Ephesians 6:11 NKJV)  If you're just struggling with your own carnal flesh, someone else has struggled there too.  The basic struggles of humanity have always been the same.  They just appear in different forms and at different times.  But there's no shame on you because your Christian walk isn't always smooth sailing.  Let me put it this way:  Jesus won the war, and gave you His armor and His strength to fight His battles (and yours).  He never promised you that your life would be a bowl of cherries, but He did say He'd be with you through the pits.

     "Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.  Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one.  And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints—" (Ephesians 6:13-18 NKJV) and also, "Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. (Hebrews 12:2 NIV 1984)

     Jesus struggled with temptation, and had to resist the devil.  You'll have do the same.  It won't always be easy, but as long as you're reading and following the Word, keeping Jesus as your focus, and trusting Him and His promises (regardless of what emotion or the enemy tells you), you'll find that your struggles will be easier to work through.  Plus, when you fail (and we all will sometime), you can rely on God to forgive you, meaning you should repent, pick up, and move on.  You're not alone.  So take your struggles to God.  "For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet was without sin.  Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need. (Hebrews 4:15-16 NIV 1984)

     So whatever happens in 2013, remember that Jesus loves you, and trust Him to do all He said He would.  He hasn't failed yet.

(NKJV Means New King James Version)

(NIV 1984 Means New International Version 1984)