Hosanna Restoration Church

Recently I read a statement by Oswald Chambers that said, “Concentration is more important than consecration.” Often times we put a lot of emphasis on consecrating ourselves when should just be concentrating on God. It does sound rather Holy to say that we are doing all that we can in order to be presentable to God, but we do this in spite of the fact that scripture simply tells us to present ourselves to God. All through the Old Testament they proved that no ritual could ever make them permanently presentable.

Of course it is obvious that it is more beneficial to concentrate on God than it is to concentrate on our selves. That is what consecration does; it makes us look at us, and we never can measure up. Or if we think we can or that we do, we are in even bigger trouble. Jesus is the one who gives us the measure that makes us presentable to God.

In this Psalm I see the writer concentrating on God and the things He did for them. It is good to put things in proper perspective. What we have and who we are in Christ started with Him and what He has started He will finish. It is God’s arm, God’s hand, the light of God’s countenance and the favor of God that places us in the Kingdom of God.

Now, concentrate on this; He wants to do and be all that He has promised to do and be! He wants to fulfill His covenant with us more than we want Him to. Let’s be honest, most of us have a hard time expecting God to do anything for us, let alone everything He promised. People try to write off the promises of Deuteronomy 28 as Old Testament, then try to spiritualize Jesus’ promise of an even better covenant because, well just because.

It really does sound too good to be true, and it would be impossible to be good enough ever be in line for it, but what if we were to quit trying to figure out if we were good enough and just began to concentrate on how capable God is? What if we were to imagine that He wants it more than we do? That might make us just line up for His goodness because it is what He wants and it is the right thing to do! This really is not so far fetched; look at the price He was willing to pay to make it a possibility. If you paid that much for something you would certainly want to see it through wouldn’t you?

Recently a man in our church had a word from God telling us that He wants to fulfill His original covenant with us. I think that word is bigger than our little body, but are still taking it personally. The fact is that God wants to do that very thing with every believer in every body. Will you believe that God favors you? Concentrate on that! It is true.