Life is Short: Focus on God and Dream with Him
Life is short.
Life’s too short to delay living how we were always meant to live.
We were created to live a life focused on God and spiritual things.
And the Lord wants us to dream big with Him.
Because life is short, God calls us to live a life focused on His purpose for us, the true desires of our heart, walking in the Spirit, and the path to righteous living.
So let’s look at 20 of these areas that help us live this kind of life with our God in this present world.
Life is short: Focus on Brand-new
(1.) Beginnings. “The point in time or space at which something starts.”(Google) The world, life, time and space all started with God. So it makes perfect sense to see God as the God of new beginnings. Every new day, job, venture, relationship, season, and so on starts with God, the best beginning to everything.
(2.) Forge new paths. Whether careers, direction, vision, mission, or ministry, remember who makes new paths. “See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.” Isaiah 43:19 (NIV)
(3.) Dreams. Dream big ole’ ginormous things only God can pull off. He’s the biggest dreamer of all. Dream with God, you and Him dream best together.
Dream big ole’ ginormous things only God can pull off. He’s the biggest dreamer of all. Dream with God, you and Him dream best together. Share on X(4.) Do-overs. Sometimes we get to do something over, other times it’s impossible. Like we cannot undo the past, what’s done is done. But every new day presents opportunities to change our actions, reactions, perspective, words, and outlook.
(5.) Second chances. Everyone hopes for a second chance after forgetting something, messing up, hurting someone, or sinning against God. And we may ask others for a second chance or give them a second chance. But, without doubt, we serve a God of second chances and countless chances.
(6.) Wholeness. We were made for wholeness, but we learned brokenness in life, being born into a broken world. Still, Jesus makes us whole in every way. “For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily, and you have been filled in him, who is the head of all rule and authority.” Colossians 2:9-10 (ESV)
Living Life Focused
(7.) Abundant life. Do you realize abundant life started the moment you received Christ as Lord? Focusing on God means embracing the spiritually abundant life Jesus promised to us. “I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.” John 10:10b (ESV)
(8.) Joy. Life’s too short to live without the kind of joy that can’t be taken away from us and isn’t based on our circumstances. Jesus told us to abide in His love and keep God’s commandments so that “my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.” John 15:11b (ESV)
(9.) Peace. Who doesn’t need peace in this world? Peace from the Prince of Peace. “You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you.” Isaiah 26:3 (NIV)
(10.) Love God and People. What really matters at the end of our life is loving God and people. “There’s no other commandment greater than these.” Mark 12:31b (ESV)
(11.) Stay in the Word. Nothing anchors us more in an uncertain world than a God who is trustworthy and true to His Word.
Stay in the Word. Nothing anchors us more in an uncertain world than a God who is trustworthy and true to His Word. Share on XLife is Short: Focus on the Lord
(12.) Hope in the Hope-giver. One of the best ways to focus on God is to grab ahold of His hope, the only true hope among all the false hope life throws at us.
(13.) Depend on God. Culture says we are weak if we need help and we can’t pull ourselves up by our own bootstraps. God says, “Look to the hills, where does your help come from? From Me the God of heaven and earth.” (See Psalm 121:1)
(14.) Stand on holy ground. Do we stand on God’s promises and truth over the wisdom and pleasures of this world? Are we shifting ground from this world’s opinions to holy ground?
(15.) Walk by faith. Our faith is unstoppable when we trust in an unstoppable God who does bigger and better things than anyone or any god.
(16.) Trust a God who’s faithful. Great is His faithfulness!
Focus on Spiritual Things
(17.) Fruit of the Spirit. Are we growing year by year in spiritual fruit? “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.” Galatians 5:22-23 (ESV)
Are we growing year by year in spiritual fruit? “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.” Galatians 5:22-23 (NIV) Share on X(18.) Prayer. Prayer releases our burdens to God. The Lord has a strong shoulder for the burdens heaped upon us from people, the world and hardships.
(19.) Invest in the Kingdom. Reach the lost, make disciples, pour into others, and help the needy.
(20.) Hold on to Jesus. No matter what the future holds, we cling to Christ with all our might as He holds on to us!
Ask God to help you focus on Him in this life. Which focus areas spoke to you the most?
Featured images courtesy of our YouTube Channel, Friday’s Forever.
Last week’s article, 10 Wonderful Attributes to Describe Jesus.
Sometimes I participate in these link-ups:
Inspire Me Monday/Tell His Story/Let’s Have Coffee/Embracing the Unexpected (Grace & Truth).
© 2023 by Karen Friday, All rights reserved
Another wonderful message. It’s so wonderful to have a heavenly Father who has given me so much peace and joy.
Me too, Sandra. To think about the abundant life and those qualities freely given to us, makes me want to focus on God in my life. Thanks for commenting! God bless.
“You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you.” Isaiah 26:3 (NIV)
When I pause and reflect on all that God has done in my life, and the countless times I’ve fallen short, I am overwhelmed by His grace, mercy, and love. Such an encouraging post today ma’am. Thank you!
I want to be overwhelmed every day by Jesus. Life’s too short not to have His peace, joy, and wholeness. God bless.
I can’t begin to imagine a minute where I’m not dependent upon God and thankful for all He has done and will do in the future. It is because of Him that all of us can live with hope, love and peace.
Blessings, Karen!
That’s true, Martha, I can’t imagine not have that dependency either. I pray we continue to trust the Lord without hestitation and hold on to Him. God bless!
A great deal to ponder here, Karen. Thanks for going deep. God bless!
Thank you, Nancy! My hope and prayer is that I keep God number one, my eyes turned on Him, and my heart set on Him.
Amen. Keep God first. Know that He is with us always. Rest in His presence. Thank you for another beautiful and inspirational message Karen. God bless you.
Melissa, that’s key, keeping God first, isn’t it? God bless.
Thank you for this great message Karen. When we keep God first, He can and will fulfill so many of our dreams. What a blessing
Thank you, Yvonne! I pray we continue to focus on God and dream with Him more than anything else this world has to offer!
I love this! God is MASSIVE… His ways are beyond anything I can possibly comprehend! His dreams are magnificent. I can’t even begin to grasp His ways or His will. All I can do is follow and say YES LORD, amen!
Thank you, Jessica! Your comment made me want to praise the Lord! Grateful He is massisive and dreams are magnificent.
Amen Sister in JESUS-YESHUA CHRIST-MESSIAH Karen!! JESUS-YESHUA SAVES YE ALL!! GOODNIGHT!!
Love Always and Shalom, YSIC \o/
Kristi
Kristi, I pray the Lord would continue to show Himself mightily to you in every way. God bless!
Thank you for this inspiring message, Karen! God is able to do far exceedingly above and beyond what we ask or imagine! God, we ask you to show yourself mighty in and through our lives. For your glory, Lord! May God’s abundant blessings overflow you and your family, Karen!
Amen to that prayer, Melissa. I pray the Lord’s joy and peace would overflow in your life! Blessings!
God is so much bigger than our biggest hopes and dreams! So encouraging!
He really is! God’s the biggest dreamer of all!
Karen, I so appreciate your life-giving words. The reminder to stay present and focused on the Lord is something I need often. You always share wisdom and hope in your posts!
Thank you, Jeanne. I pray to stand on God’s promises and truth over the wisdom and pleasures of this world. And that we shift ground from this world’s opinions to holy ground. God bless!
So inspirational, and as I read I get further into God’s presence. Thank’s Karen!
Hey Lynn, appreciate you commenting. Great is God’s faithfulness!
Karen, such a hope-filled post. May we “Stay in the Word. Nothing anchors us more in an uncertain world than a God who is trustworthy and true to His Word.” As we focus on Him, His plans and our dreams will come together and be fulfilled.
I’m learning more and more the vital role staying in the Word plays in my life and in how I can stay focused on God. God bless.
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I find focus harder to maintain–in all things–as I get further into midlife. It’s key, and I’m working on it. Thanks for the encouragment.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts, Natalie. I think focus is hard for many of us and a big part of it is spiritual warfare from the enemy.