Reset your Focus 

We are exposed to so many confusing and frustrating things on social media and through the news. It’s so easy for our attention to dwell on the melting pot of current events and be overwhelmed with thoughts like, “I need to keep up to date with this, I NEED to have answers for everything that is going on, I NEED to find a way out of this situation.”  The truth is the only thing you do NEED to focus on is Jesus. 

Jesus said, “I am the WAY, the TRUTH, and the LIFE.” 

He is literally telling us that He is an all-in-one solution. 

So, how do we focus on Jesus? 

Well, a big reason why we easily focus on the mainstream ‘Debbie Downers’ of the world is because we get blasted with their obnoxious reports and opinions as soon as we pick up our phones and start scrolling.  

So here’s an idea—have a cull on your phone. 

Get rid of the apps that tend to take your focus from where it should be (on Jesus). OR do one even better, tweak those apps so that you get blasted with content from creators and trusted sources that are sensitive and honest in how they share news. Follow sites that uphold Biblical principles and that share information that would build your confidence, not knock it down. 

This is not to say you shouldn’t be ‘in the know’ about current events or whatever else is going on, but you can control how you receive it, and you can control who you hear it from.  

Try and adjust the way you see the world according to the ways of Jesus, His character, His words, and His example. Try to see Jesus in everything that is going on (kind of like when Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were in the fire and weren’t afraid, because they knew that they weren’t alone). 

As you begin this year, try not to be distracted by the dumpster fire of current events. Reset your focus to be on Jesus. He is there; sometimes you just have to refocus to see Him.  

Exercise your Trust  

Once you have committed to focus on Jesus, you need to remember to trust Him. 

Our free will enables us to make decisions in this life, and sometimes we don’t make the right ones. Take time, as often as you can, to entrust your decisions to Jesus. Ask him to help you in your decision making, and also trust that if you make wrong choices, He can make things right. 

Actively exercise your trust in Him, so that it becomes second nature.  

Trust in Jesus allows positive traits to flow into your heart. It allows you to have joy, even when things are tough. It allows you to have hope, when there seems to be no light at the end of the tunnel. 

If you do not strive to trust in Jesus, you can easily stop focusing on him and fall back into drowning in the mire of doubt and hopelessness that tries to close in around us every day. 

How can we exercise trust? 

A great exercise to enhance your trust muscles is to look back and be thankful. 

Look back at all the different situations the Lord has brought you through. Gratitude is a powerful tool in conquering anxiety and is a balm for soothing worries. Try and take some time daily (or weekly, or however is best for you) and write down a few things that you are thankful for. Try and do this in the morning as it will help you start the day with a brain that is reminded of the goodness of God in your life. It’s amazing how much of a difference this can make. 

Your trust in Jesus is a guard against ideas and feelings that will try and convince you that there is no hope. Don’t forget to exercise it! 

Plan to be like Jesus 

With your focus on Jesus, and a trust that is strong, you can start making plans with confidence. Of course, we like to make practical plans for ourselves at the new year, to push our creativity, grow our businesses, get healthier—all that good stuff—but here is another challenge for you, from us. 

The Character Trait Challenge – 

For the past few years, the staff at CEE have sat together and assigned one of the 90 Biblical character traits to each month of the year to be our monthly focus.  

If you don’t know what these character traits are, here’s an explanation: 

ACE has compiled a list of 90 character traits that Christ exhibited throughout the Bible. This list a great tool, because it can help us learn more about each individual trait and then figure out how to put it to use in our own lives. Ultimately, as Christians, we want to be like Jesus, so implementing and putting these traits into practice is a step in the right direction! 

So here is a challenge for you! Using the list of Character traits below (click the button to download), choose a trait for each month this year, try and learn more about the trait, and have a go at putting it into practice throughout the month. Keep a diary of what you think about the character trait, how difficult (or easy) it was for you to implement, and what you learned through the practice of it—How did it make you feel? How did it affect others? What resulted from your actioning of this characteristic?  

Dig deep into what it means to be like Jesus and put it to practice! 

We hope you enjoy taking part in this challenge and that it blesses and surprises you this year. 

In Summary: 

Reset your focus on Jesus. 

Practice trusting in Jesus. 

Plan to be like Jesus. 

Happy new year to all our readers! 😊 

It’s that time of the year again! Christmas is here! Although 2020 has been ‘different’—to say the least—let us do some reflection. Despite all the mess this year has brought, there is a message.  

2020 has disrupted our plans, our jobs… our way of life. We were forced to slow down. This year has exposed our priorities and attitude. It has brought to light the things that we have taken for granted, such as breathing freely without a mask or just hugging our loved ones! It has also revealed how much we depend on God, or if we are operating from our own strength.  

There are so many factors in our lives that we can’t control, including everything that has happened this year, but we can control our focus. This is the last month of 2020; let us finish this year strongly by focusing on the One who has begun everything. This Christmas let’s get back to what really is important. 

Christmas should be all about Jesus. As Christians, we need to remain convicted to turn the tide of what Christmas is about back to what it should be all about: Jesus was given to mankind. 

For to us a Child is born, 
    to us a Son is given; 
and the government shall be upon His shoulder, 
    and His name shall be called 
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, 
    Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. 
Of the increase of His government and of peace 
    there will be no end, 
on the throne of David and over His kingdom, 
    to establish it and to uphold it 
with justice and with righteousness 
    from this time forth and forevermore. 
The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this.  

Isaiah 9:6-7 

He came up into the world as a baby—the weakest being possible—in the most dreadful conditions—a filthy stable. This baby, born of a virgin, came to earth and prophecies were fulfilled.  

...who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. Therefore, God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. - Philippians 2:6 -10 (NKJV) 

Jesus was born to die for us. He took our sins and nature upon Himself at the cross and rose again on the third day. We then have the opportunity to be reconciled to God the Father, to receive salvation and restoration to newness of life, by faith. Christmas begins what Easter celebrates. 

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life -.John 3:16 

The Gift That Keeps on Giving 

This Christmas, as you give and receive gifts, let us remind ourselves and our families of the greatest Gift ever given. This Gift is still working two thousand years later. And like with any gift, all God wants you to do is receive it. 

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. - John 10:10 

Jesus came that we may have an abundant and purposeful life. When we believe and receive Jesus as our Lord and Saviour, our old life is gone and a new one begins. We are raised to life through Christ. His life continually flows through us and in us every day. We are now joined to Him like branches, as He says in John 15.  

I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. -  John 15:5 (NKJV) 

Going into a New Season 

May we go out from 2020 better than we started it. May we not get caught up with the world's standards of ‘what matters’ but fix our eyes on the One Who is the beginning and the end, our only hope, Jesus.  

Therefore, we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. - Hebrews 12: 1-3 (NKJV) 

As we go into a new season, one where the world might be even crazier, Jesus is not worried. He sits down at the right hand of the throne of God. He is still in control, so leave all your worries behind in 2020! 

Receiving the Gift 

If you have never received Jesus as heaven’s Gift or want to commit your life to Him again, simply choose to believe and accept His free gift of salvation. Call upon him in prayer: 

Father God, thank you for sending the greatest Gift—Jesus—to save me and make me alive. Thank you, Jesus, that You are the reason for this season. I believe that You died on the cross for me and were raised to life again. Today, I give You my life. I give You my sins and my shame. Forgive me, and I will spend the rest of my life following You. In Jesus’ Name, amen. 

The Lord bless you and keep you; 
The Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; 
The Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace. 

Numbers 6:24-26  

Happy Christmas and have a blessed New Year!  

Unless otherwise stated, all Scripture quotations are from The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. 

NKJV: Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.