Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth. -Colossians 3:2 NLT

More than anything else in our day, we are alone with our thoughts. From the moment we peel ourselves from our cozy beds in the morning, to the night when we fall exhausted back into them, we have thoughts swirling around all day long. Those thoughts are either life giving, or energy zapping. What we think about matters. Because of this, we have to ask ourselves what good will come from dwelling on our struggles, short comings, and stresses? In my experience, just more of the same. But what good comes from focusing on the things of heaven, namely God Himself? Simply put, peace, rest, and confident hope in the future.

When we are advised to think about heaven and not the earth, this is for our good. God isn’t telling us to do this as a way to distract us from our problems, or daydream about what is to come. No, He is guiding us to do this because He knows it’s good for us mentally and spiritually to shift our eyes from the temporary of the world to the eternal of heaven. Why spend our precious lives focusing on things that will all one day be gone? Why not use every blessed minute we have on this earth with our eyes set forward, looking straight into our glorious future that has been lovingly laid out for us with the One who gave it all? We get to focus on the One who loves and forgives us, and who just wants to spend time with us.

In this life, sadly, people may let us down. Jobs, relationships, and possessions come and go, but the One constant that remains unchanged and wants to hear our voice is the Lord. He longs for our time, He longs to hear our prayers, and if He had to, He would go to the cross all over again for us. He wants us focused on Him for our benefit. He knows the peace it will bring to our lives. He knows the burdens it will lighten from our backs. And He knows the green pastures we can rest in if we just shift the focus of our thoughts from where they are drifting right now and direct them to Him.