Need doesn't phone ahead so we can deal with it in a timely and organized manner does it? Need many times comes thru other events around us of a wholly different subject matter drawing out in us the thing God would want us to give Him so as to forge our character. In those quickened moments the devil competes for our thoughtful introspective muse with a quickened alert to take us off center and into a proportional life in Christ. The only problem with that is it is a lie that sounds delightfully enlightening. We are either in Christ or we are not - there is no truth in percentages. Maturing is another issue, but that is not what is on my heart just now to further discuss.
Faithfulness requires the righteous to live in righteousness. That means we always must sit with God in all things spiritually and therefore as we do all things in a life that is His to run by even our own volitional will. When we do this we will recognize our need and the Lord as the source of all good things: “Behold, as the eyes of servants look to the hand of their master, as the eyes of a maidservant to the hand of her mistress, so our eyes look to the LORD our God, till he has mercy upon us” (Psalm 123:2). The world offers various means of obtaining love, joy, and peace, but they are destined to disappoint. We, as believers understand that love, joy, and peace (and a myriad other fine gifts) are the direct result of our relationship with Christ ( Galatians 5:22-23).
We need to always see the world for what it is: a sin-filled place of desperate need. The darker the world is to us, even within us as Satan harbors our thoughts, but Christ wins out in our ever-present spiritual warfare, the more clearly the light of Christ will stand out. In that way - it’s not hard to focus on a light in a darkened room. “We . . . have the prophetic message as something completely reliable, and you will do well to pay attention to it, as to a light shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts” (2 Peter 1:19).
Those who stay focused on Christ will find their perspective on worldly things changing. As Helen Lemmel says in her hymn, “Turn your eyes upon Jesus, / Look full in His wonderful face, / And the things of earth will grow strangely dim / In the light of His glory and grace.”
"Lord, Thank You for allowing me to remain in practice of the heavenward-look as You help me keep my eyes focused on You, Your glory, and Your love. Amen."