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Have you ever found yourself becoming so focused on earthly things that these thoughts start to crowd out your thoughts about God and His goodness? Well, I have.

I remember many years ago, one of my coworkers got promoted. I was angry. Don’t get me wrong. My anger had nothing to do with my coworker or her promotion. You see, for years I had been believing God for a number of things. It seemed like I had been forgotten. When my coworker’s promotion was announced, it gave me just one more reason to feel like everyone else’s prayers were being answered.

It was no surprise that, leading up to that day of her announcement, I had been spending a lot of time focused on my circumstances. Focused on what was not happening in my life. In truth, I had lost my way. I remember asking God to help me to get back on track. I prayed for help to keep my eyes focused on God, and what He wanted, so that the pull of earthly things would not be greater than the pull for the things of the Lord.

For a while I was doing well. And then one day…

I remember that day I was driving home from work and, in the quiet of my car, I started thinking of my spiritual walk the past few weeks. I could see clearly that, there I was again, focusing on earthly things.

The more I focused on the desires of the world, the more these thoughts crowded out the reality of the trustworthiness, the dependability, and the reliability of God.

Colossians 3:2 says: Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth.

How do I do this?

Well, as a start, God must occupy the place in my life that is reserved for no one else but Him. God must be first in my life, above all things. God must be my first love. And out of that love, my desire should be to do what God wants. My desire should be to carry out His purposes.

I accept that thoughts of earthly things, for example, a higher paying job, maybe a new car, or a bigger home, are harmless. However, the shift from harmless to harmful occurs when my thoughts and desires for these things become greater than my thoughts and desires for the things of the Lord.

God knows what I have and He sure knows what I need. In Matthew 6:8, the Bible says in part: For your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him. And in Matthew 6:33, the Bible says: But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.

Living a life where I continually set my mind on things above is not something I can easily do on my own. I need God’s help. I need God’s help even now. So, I end here with a prayer:

Dear God, you know exactly where I am and exactly what I need. You know my thoughts. You know how easy it is for me to fall to the temptation of allowing my thoughts to be focused on earthly things. As your Word says, you know my frame and remember I am but dust. Help me, Father, to keep my mind set on things above. I want my heart, I want my affections, to be focused on you and only You. I know that without you I can do nothing. I ask for the grace to be able to set my mind on things above. Lord, please help me so that my heart’s cry can truly be that there is nothing on earth that I desire besides you. In Jesus name I pray. Amen.