Husbands, Focus on the LORD

It is easier said than done. As husbands we have lots of anxieties.

“³³But the married man is anxious about worldly things, how to please his wife, ³⁴and his interests are divided.” – 1 Corinthians 7:33-34a (ESV)

Paul, in speaking to the Corinthians is noting for them that as married men, we are occupied with pleasing our wives. We want them to be well taken care of and sacrifice ourselves for them to be cared for. I was recently given a card by my wife and sons that read in part, “Thank you for always putting your family first.” So we are devoted to them and their well being and worry becomes normalized with them.

I am not saying that we should not be married or find a way out of marriage by any means, and neither does Paul. But, we should turn our focus on the LORD and avoid the anxieties that plague us as men.

“³⁶If anyone thinks that he is not behaving properly toward his betrothed, if his passions are strong, and it has to be, let him do as he wishes: let them marry—it is no sin. ³⁷But whoever is firmly established in his heart, being under no necessity but having his desire under control, and has determined this in his heart, to keep her as his betrothed, he will do well. ³⁸So then he who marries his betrothed does well, and he who refrains from marriage will do even better.” – 1 Corinthians 7:36-38 (ESV)

Paul points out that it is good and right if we just stay where we are and focus on the LORD. If that means staying unmarried, even to our betrothed, or being married. We are best to stay in that situation and turn our focus on the LORD and remove our anxieties. We are to remember the LORD and not the things of the world. We have to get our lives in balance with the LORD.

I spend my mornings reading and studying God’s Word. I am intentional about it. It is a wonderful amount of time each day and it really does get me moving in the right direction. And then I move to the things of the world, my wife, my boys, my household, my work, and all other things. But, I have started my day with the LORD and He remains with me the rest of the day guiding me away from the world’s anxieties.

We are not to give up on what the LORD has planned for us. He planned for me and Lori to be together and He blessed us with Bryson and Aarron. I do not wish for a different life at all. I am elated to have what the LORD has given to me. It is up to me to embrace where I am and turn my focus to the LORD daily and allow Him to deal with all that is in the world for me. He will point me where He wants me next, I only need to focus on Him.

Where is your focus? Are you focused on the things of this world and not necessarily on the LORD? What if you were to accept where you are and turn your focus on the LORD and allow Him to deal with the world and point your where He would have you?

The LORD Consoles the Worry

I have a number of worries in my heart right now. I am having a hard time with some things and I need all the help I can get to deal with them and get through them.

“¹⁹When the cares of my heart are many,

your consolations cheer my soul.”

— Psalm 94:19 (ESV)

But, even as I have those worries, I know that the LORD will help me through them. The thing is that I am not aware of when His “consolations will cheer my soul”. God does not let us in on the timeline to His work. Only He knows all of that. I have only to trust that He will take care of things.

It is hard knowing that relief is in the cards, yet not knowing when that relief will come. I can only continue to follow Christ and do that which He has for me in this world. I have to put those “cares” aside to ensure that I am moving forward with the work of the LORD. I am not called to understand all, I am called to go and do and then the LORD will take care of the results that are to be in His plan for things.

When we are working for the LORD, our cares are put aside, being dealt with by the LORD on our behalf. As I sit here this morning studying and writing, I am not thinking of those worries. The LORD is working to guard me against them and keep me focused on Him. The “cares” are still there, they are just minimized in the moment and the longer I stick with the work of God, longer they stay at bay to the point that their hold on my slips away.

And there it is. God’s consolation comes in time as we place ourselves in His hands, doing His work. When I am focused on Him, all else goes away and the relief comes.

What is your approach when worry gets hold of you? Are you paralyzed by the worry and allow it to take you over? What if you were to dig into the work of the LORD and allow Him to console your soul over time by showing you that the worry is just not worth the time and effort you are spending?

What’s in Your Heart

That which is in our heart has a great impact on how we go about things. We may have a persona on the outside and our face says one thing, but it is what is on the outside and what is on our heart that really drives how we approach things.

“²⁵Anxiety in a man’s heart weighs him down,

but a good word makes him glad.”

— Proverbs 12:25 (ESV)

I admit that I am consumed a lot by what is on the inside and fight each day. I am a bit of a worry wort and allow things that are out of my control to dominate my mind and approach. I am not always a “glad” person. I like to think that I am a realist where the glass is not half full or half empty but that there is just water in the class. But really, I am one who allows the fear of the unknown to keep me from things.

Notice in the verse above, that it is simple anxiety that brings us to a low point and dominates our thinking and approach to things. When we have that worry in our hearts, we are not able to proceed forward in a positive way as there is always something lurking that will cause us to doubt. I have that in my heart and it does indeed keep me tied up, unable to move forward in a constructive way.

But, there is hope. Hope in the Word of the LORD. “A good word” or the Word of God on our hearts makes us glad and keeps us away from the negative approach to things. When I am focused on the Word of God, I am more likely to smile and know the way forward and avoid the doubts and anxious moments.

It is possible to have both anxiety and happiness at the same time, according to therapists. But is that really true. I feel that it is really one or the other. When glad and filled with happiness, there is little to no thought of any worry. It is just happiness and gladness and looking forward to the next thing that will bring happiness and gladness. Where anxiety, the anxiety of the moment keeps us from moving forward and wanting to hold on to the moment of happiness forever.

I don’t want to be weighted down by my anxiety and worry. I therefor pray against it daily. I speak to the LORD asking Him to take it from me. I work daily to let it go and think from a glad heart. I work to allow the LORD to consume me so that His light will shine from me and lift others. I am a continued work in progress.

I will be glad. I will be happy. I will press forward. I will keep the Word of God on my heart. This is the approach I need to keep looking for the next thing to bring happiness and gladness. I will fill my heart with gladness.

What is on your heart? Are you filled with anxiety and worry? What if you filled the gladness and happiness provided by the Word of God to press on to the next thing that will bring you happiness and gladness?