Author: mary

“We grow weary in our present bodies, and we long to put on our heavenly bodies like new clothing. For we will put on heavenly bodies; we will not be spirits without bodies.” 2 Corinthians 5:2-3 Doesn’t that describe the hearts of God’s beloved people so well? We grow weary, and we long to be with God.

When our sights are on heaven and eternity, we will see the world differently. We will live differently. We will talk to those around us differently. We will want to put on the things of God daily as we put on new clothing. Colossians 3:12 says, “Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.” These are the things we have to put on everyday. They are the characteristics of a new, restored life. When we put on these qualities, we will show the world what a godly, changed life looks like.

What qualities do you need to put on? Take a minute to pray and ponder on the qualities that you need to begin putting on every single day. Do you need to be merciful or kind to those around you? Do you need to clothe yourself with gentleness or patience? Pray everyday that God would help you put these things on everyday so that you may live like Him and show others His love.

Can you just imagine what the Garden of Eden must have been like for Adam? Walking with God everyday. Everything in perfect harmony. Never needing anything but always having enough? It is hard for us to even begin to entertain those ideas because we live in constant suffering, always focused on our own troubles and what we do not have.

Adam went from a life of luxury and joy to a life of hardship and sorrow. He went from walking with God and enjoying the pleasures of the garden with Eve, to mourning the death of his son Abel and the bitterness of Cain. So what changed? Sin. Sin brought death into the world and divided God from man. It was the reason God had to send Jesus to die on the cross and suffer, so that our relationship with God could be mended. Now we live in this broken, earthly world and are waiting to join God in heaven and walk with Him once again. 2 Corinthians 5:1 says, “For we know that when this earthly tent we live in is taken down (that is, when we die and leave this earthly body), we will have a house in heaven, an eternal body made for us by God himself and not by human hands.” While this earthly body is but a tent that we temporarily reside in, we look forward to the permanent house we will live and abide in with God forever in heaven.

He will make all things new. He will bring restoration to the broken. He will once again walk side by side with His creation. Until that day, we set our eyes on things eternal instead of earthly things, and we live according to the promises He has given.

How can you get past the troubles in this life? We know that they won’t go away, so how is it possible to live a life for the Lord and not focus on our momentary troubles? 2 Corinthians 4:18 says, “So we don’t look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever.”

We must have a heaven focused mindset instead of an earthly mindset. We must not allow the troubles of today affect our future and our godly lives. We have to see everything as temporary instead of lasting problems. Instead of fixing your gaze on the momentary things of this world, fix your gaze on the unseen things. These things will last forever. If we see everything through the eyes of Christ, then we will see them differently and not selfishly.

We will see relationships differently when we see them through His eyes. He will lead and guide our relationships when we see them through His eyes, whether it is romantic relationships, friendships, family relationships, or work relationships. Everything can change when we allow God to be a part of our relationships.

The troubles in this life are small and momentary as 2 Corinthians 2:17 tells us. They are daily achieving a glory that will outweigh all of the troubles and will last forever. The Bible tells us that this life is but a mist. James 4:14 says, “How do you know what your life will be like tomorrow? Your life is like the morning fog-it’s here a little while, then it’s gone.”

We do not know what will happen in this life. We do not know how long we will live or the troubles we will find. Our lives are like the morning fog- here today and gone tomorrow. However, God knows. He knows everything about us. He knows the troubles that we will experience. He knows our days. We can trust Him with tomorrow, because He knows what tomorrow brings. He promises us that all of this is temporary and are small in retrospect.

Do you let your troubles overtake you or do you trust God with your troubles? Do you see your life as but a mist or do you rely on the temporary things of this life? They will all pass away but God is forever.

While we may go through sorrow in this life, while tragedy may strike, cancer may take over our earthly bodies, a global pandemic may threaten to wipe us out, we do not lose hope. While our outward bodies are wasting away, our inner spirit is being renewed day by day as 2 Corinthians 4:16 states (“That is why we never give up. Though our bodies are dying, our spirits are being renewed every day”).

There is great hope to be found in Christ. We cannot trust in ourselves and our own earthly bodies. We will lead ourselves astray every time. We will get distracted and lose sight of who He is if we trust ourselves instead of the Lord. We cannot trust something that is temporary. However, God is eternal. He has placed His Spirit inside of us to live and breathe. Our spiritual selves are being renewed day by day because that is what God does. He renews us. Even when we try to mess things up, He will still pick us back up and renew our spirits.

Allow yourself to be found in Him today. May you rely on Him and His Spirit to lead and guide you. May you allow Him to renew your spirit today.