Before reading this blog entry, I’d like you to take just a minute and reflect on what matters the most to you. When you wake up in the morning, what is the first thing that comes to your mind? What occupies the majority of your thoughts in a day?

Maybe you’re like many people and your thoughts turn to the busyness of your day, the work schedule, the bills that need paid, the homework that didn’t get done the night before. Maybe you’re a future-focused person, so your thoughts dwell on the next achievement in your life, whether in your career, your finances, or even in your personal relationships. Maybe your thoughts are deeply rooted in your care and concern for others, so your thoughts dwell on other people, even the welfare of your family members. Do any of these sound familiar to you?

How many of you answered the above questions by saying that what matters the most to you is fulfilling God’s purpose and plan for you? Being honest, I can’t say that that’s how my thoughts are all the time. I do pray all of the time for God to keep his purpose and plan at the forefront of all of my thoughts and actions. There are many days that is exactly where my heart, soul and mind are. And on those days, it is so deeply rooted that the spirit is just overflowing with that in me. On other days, the battle ensues between the flesh and the spirit, and the “selfish me” appears. And the funny thing is, most of the time the selfish me really isn’t even about me, but it is about “the world”. It’s about the schedule that won’t allow me to spend as much time helping others as I want, it’s about not being able to get through to the people that I care about, it’s about obstacles that surface trying to do God’s work, it’s about normal everyday relationships.

So what do we do when we feel the pressures of our own “little kingdoms”?

In a past sermon from our sermon archives, Pastor Nate, spoke about “big kingdom” living, as Paul Tripp, author of “A Quest for More: Living for Something Bigger than You” calls it. It’s all about looking up and out and not focusing on self. As Nate describes it, when the arrows of your thoughts and actions are first pointed to God, then pointed to others, then God takes care of you. All of HIS arrows will be pointed directly at you.

So what do I do when I start getting into the “selfish me” mindset? Here’s what I found helpful:

I visualize in my mind actual arrows pointing directly to God, then arrows pointed directly at those I care about. I try to remove myself, my feelings, completely from the situation (I’m not saying this is always easy.) Because you see, in my heart and soul, I 100% trust God’s plan for me. In my heart and soul, I 100% know HE will supply everything according to my needs.
I use the tools God gave me…searching HIS word, and time in prayer and reflection. HE has all of the answers. All we need to do is search for them.
I rely on wonderful Christian friends to support me.
I write! And thus this entry….today was one of those “selfish me” days…and with a little bit of God’s word, a little fellowship with a dear friend, a little writing, and a lot of talking to God, I’m already starting to refocus my arrows!

For any of you struggling with what this crazy life is all about, I strongly recommend Paul’s book titled “A Quest for More: Living for Something Bigger than You”.