“At this, Job got up and tore his robe and shaved his head. Then he fell to the ground in worship and said:
“Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I will depart. The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; may the name of the Lord be praised.” Job 1:20 NIV
Years ago during a discussion with a friend, he made the comment ‘tell me what occupies your heart and mind and I will show you your god.’ This gave me pause to consider where does my mind live? What occupies my thoughts? Worry, anxiety, jealousy? Or does gratitude, contentment, joy and love permeate the pores of my heart and soul?
“Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth. For you died to this life, and your real life is hidden with Christ in God. And when Christ, who is your life, is revealed to the whole world, you will share in all his glory. Colossians 3:2-4 NLT
Colossians 3 is a crib notes guide for living, for a person sold out to Christ, AKA a Christian. Paul wrote these words when he was imprisoned the first time. I say with complete certainty that he would tell us that he was the freest of men as he was in jail because he was the son of the Most High God, imprisoned by earthly standards and freed for eternity by Jesus death and resurrection.
In the book of Job, God shows us that our earthly situations or status does not define who we are. Rather our mind and response to temporary situations and things of this earth reveals our hearts.
“Then the Lord said to Satan, “Have you considered my servant Job? There is no one on earth like him; he is blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil.” Job 1:8 NIV
In a single afternoon, Job lost his all his material possessions and all of children. God allowed this to show to Satan that men and women like Job will choose him regardless of their situation and status. Job mourned and in the same moment he worshipped. Shortly after this, Job is struck with miserable boils on his pottery and utters the words: “Shall we accept good from God and not trouble?” (Job 2:10)
What occupies your mind? What prioritizes your days? Are your material possessions a gift from the Lord, or the ‘results of my hard work!’ The Bible teaches us in Psalm 57 that regardless of the difficulties of life, the Lord desires and expects us to glorify and praise Him.
“And whatever you do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through him to God the Father.” Colossians 3:17
God desires an intimate relationship with you. A relationship that places Him first in your life as your life is His priority. He is not a God of second but the God of first. Today recognize what occupies your mind and surrender those things to the Lord. Like Job and Paul, he will restore you many time over as your heart and mind focus and rest solely on Him.
You’ve got this.