Rooted in Christ Alone
Your Nightly Prayer
by Britt Mooney
TONIGHT’S SCRIPTURE
“So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him.” - Colossians 2:6
SOMETHING TO PONDER
It’s common to divide our time.
My son used to try and do work (school and then an online job) while watching gaming videos on YouTube. Obviously, especially since my wife and I have experience as teachers, we suggested that might not work the best for him. He thought he had it all figured out at 18, as some of you might remember.
A few months into his online job after high school, when his mentor/boss pointed out the mistakes my son was making and how those would affect his promotion and getting raises, my son had an epiphany. Maybe he shouldn’t watch those videos. He stopped, did better, and got a raise.
We can make fun of my son if we want, but most of us do the same in other ways, even if we’re fifty years old.
Events of the day or week easily distract us from what’s most important. Work, families, school, and other activities all seem most important. Even religion can pull our attention away from God, if we don’t have the right focus. What is the right focus? The Person of Christ.
Jesus proved his divinity in many ways, one of which was by walking on water. Peter was also able to live this divine life by keeping his eyes on the Savior. Once he got distracted by the storms around him, he started to sink.
Pretty simple. Yet not always easy. Storms quickly pull our attention away from Jesus. The Christian life begins and ends with Jesus. He is the cornerstone, the foundation of every blessing we enjoy.
Paul tells the Colossian church to live their lives in Christ. Not in any other cause or group or philosophy. Not even a religion. But in him. Jesus is the highest good, the most secure foundation, and life himself. We find our lives within him, therefore. Our simple discipline is to keep our eyes upon Christ.
In this, we don’t divide our focus. We engage the aspects of our life from Christ, not as an add-on.
Let’s start the new year practicing deeper dependence on Jesus in every moment.
YOUR NIGHTLY PRAYER
Heavenly Father,
Help me fix my eyes on Jesus. When distractions pull at my attention, and the storms of life rise up around me, help me remember you are my firm foundation. Teach me to focus on our presence more than my problems or responsibilities. Keep me faithful and centered on your person, love, and truth. Let every moment of my day flow from a complete dependence upon you, your Son, and your Spirit.
In Jesus’ name,
Amen.
THREE THINGS TO MEDITATE UPON
1. What types of things distract you from finding life in Jesus moment by moment?
2. What are some disciplines that could help you keep grounded in Christ?
3. How could you incorporate one of those disciplines this week?
Reflect on tonight’s prayer and share how God met you there. Join the Your Nightly Prayer discussion on the Crosswalk Forum.
Photo Credit: © Unsplash/Noah Benjamin
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