Wednesday Words of Encouragement

I find that I often get fixated on the wrong things. As I look around our worship service on Sunday mornings I often see small numbers. Sometimes the mood of the room is depressed and many times it seems like people would rather be somewhere else. Those are the days when I feel very discouraged and ready to quit. "If no one else cares then why are we trying so hard?"

And therein lies the problem. Because I keep trying to do things in my own strength. I keep fixating on the wrong thing and I'm taking on the responsibility of other's spiritual walk. I recently gave a message on the Parable of the Sower in Matthew 13 where Jesus talks about the farmer who sowed his seed on 4 different types of soil. Nowhere in this passage does Jesus say that the farmer was responsible for the soil; he was responsible to sow the seed. 

That was a lightbulb moment for me. I'm not responsible for others acceptance or rejection of God's message. I'm not responsible for their desire to go deeper with Christ; that's their responsibility. I'm just responsible to sow that seed and share a message of truth.

God also convicted me in a different way. Rather than focus on numbers or "moods" or attitudes or what is going right or wrong in the service, I need to keep my focus on Him. How am I worshiping? Am I focusing on Him? Is my attention where it should be? When it is, what a difference in my own spirit and mood.

Will I get discouraged and focus on the wrong thing again? Probably. I've always been sensitive to moods around me. But I'm thankful when God nudges me in areas that I need to work on. And I share these tidbits with others so you can pray for me but also to encourage those who may be going through similar issues.

Onward and upward!