My favorite book has become "The Purpose Driven Life." In it, author Rick Warren explains Biblical truths in simple term—but he has a wonderful way of making them so much clearer. I cannot open to a page without being inspired. If you haven't gotten you copy, do not pass go, do not go to jail, go directly to your nearest bookstore and pick up a copy. What a treasure!
Pg. 198:
“If you look at the world, you will be distressed.
If you look within, you will be depressed.
But if you look at Christ, you will be at rest"
Never more true than in today's times. As I look at the world I see the unanswerable situation in Iraq. We are there, amongst a people who wanted us to remove Sadam, but now see us as an occupying force and we appear to have become their enemy.
When I look within I realize more and more how I fall short. As I reflect back on my life (especially before I accepted Christ) I realize how distorted my values were. As I look at the years since following Him, I know I should do even better and yet I slip, I react in a worldly way. I disappoint myself and my Lord.
But as I look at the life of Christ I cannot find one thing that I have to overlook. Everything He did, EVERYTHING, was a perfect example. The more I focus on Christ the more rest I find.
Warren said it perfectly: "Your focus will determine your feelings."
If you make the mistake of looking either within or at the world outside you can get discouraged. But if you focus on the life and teachings of Jesus you will rise above the circumstances and be graced with an eternal perspective. All the trials of life become pale and insignificant.
