Whatever You Focus On Increases

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 "Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus." 

Whatever you focus on, increases. When you focus on your problems, your needs, your perceived lack, those very things loom ever larger and increase in proportion to your focus. When you focus on your blessings, taking stock of what you have in reverent appreciation, your hearts open to receive more. Be thankful for what you have and you'll end up having more. If you concentrate on what you don't have, you will never, ever have enough. 

When you focus on problems, you will have more problems but when you focus on God, you will have more opportunities. Your happiness does not depend on what you have or who you are, but it depends on your focus. Set your mind and your heart upon God’s love and His grace. When you turn your thoughts to God's love, to His grace, and to His goodness, you experience the joy and peace that He intends for His children.

Although life can be painful, unfair, and brutal, but it doesn’t have to be misery. You can spend your life feeling sorry for yourself, cowering in the comfort of your routines, wondering why there are so many problems out in the real world, or you can be thankful that you are strong enough to endure them. A life of rich fulfillment comes to those who are also thankful for the setbacks. Find a way to be thankful for your troubles, and they can become your blessings. God is able to bring you out of the life of pain and misery to the life of joy and victory. 

We live in a society and culture that says that the more we have, the more we get and the more we accomplish, the happier we’ll be. The truth, however, is that true joy and contentment come not from any external circumstance, but from an attitude deep within our heart. I have learned that the secret of true joy begins with an attitude of complete trust, surrender and gratitude, no matter what. 

The key to blessedness lies in being aware of blessedness. If your awareness is turned in different directions, towards what you do not have, or what you think or imagine you do not have, then this wrongly directed pattern of thought will make you unaware of the many things that you have. If you keep practicing the presence of God and gratitude, one day His presence will settle into your bones, and your soul will have the freedom to sing, dance, praise and love. Take time today to give the Lord thanks for all that He is doing in your life. Be reminded that this is the day that the Lord has made – just for you! Rejoice and be glad in it – for all that you have in life is a gift from God.

Dear My child, 

You are too busy in your life. Your search for security in the world not in Me. Do not search for security in the world you inhabit. You tend to make mental checklists of things you need to do in order to gain control of your life. If only you could check everything off your list, you could relax and be at peace. But the more you work to accomplish that goal, the more things crop up on your list. The harder you try, the more frustrated you become.

There is a better way to find security in this life. Instead of scrutinizing your checklist, focus your attention on My Presence with you. This continual contact with Me will keep you in My Peace. Moreover, I will help you sort out what is important and what is not, what needs to be done now and what does not. Fix your eyes not on what is seen, but what is unseen.

My beloved child, Come to Me and I will give you rest...