A Heart Of Worship

A Heart of Worship

God has said, “I will never fail you. I will never abandon you.” So we can say with confidence, “The LORD is my helper, so I will have no fear. What can mere people do to me?” Hebrews 13:5-6

Over salad and soup one winter day, an elderly missionary named Anne shared with me her experiences in a Japanese prison camp following nine years of service with the China Inland Mission. She spent three and a half years as a prisoner, during which she endured near starvation, bitter cold in winter, and scorching heat in summer. Cruelty, rats, disease, and death were all around her, yet Anne didn’t dwell on the horrors or the suffering.

Instead, she told me, she experienced God’s constant presence; led others in the prison camp to Christ; gave the Lord every burden, worry, and fear; and saw him work time after time. Anne seemed to possess a quiet assurance that she could absolutely trust God because she knew his character and knew that he was worthy of her trust.

Anne could have been overwhelmed by despair. But she didn’t focus on the what-ifs: What if I don’t survive? What if my health breaks? What if we’re not rescued? Instead, she fixed her eyes on Jesus and his promise from today’s verse that he would never fail or abandon her. He hadn’t failed her yet, and Anne knew that she could count on him for her tomorrows. So instead of being fearful or becoming mired in discouragement, she used her energies to serve God, to talk about Christ, and to love those around her.

What problem or difficulty are you facing today? Whatever it is, focusing on the Lord is vital. Just as this missionary kept her eyes on the Lord, you, too, can develop a Godward focus. It will make all the difference in how you live your life.

—CHERI

Lord, help me to focus on you and your majesty and great faithfulness instead of on the problems I am facing. May I be so centered on your greatness and unfailing love that I can hope in you no matter what.

When my eyes are on the Lord, He gives me a spirit of calmness, a strong, solid trust and dependency that rests in Him alone. Because He is my refuge, I can live freely and fearlessly, knowing that God is always in control.

—REBECCA BARLOW JORDAN, INSPIRATIONAL SPEAKER AND AUTHOR