An Eternal Mindset

This past year, the Lord has been teaching me to fully focus my eyes on Him and live daily with an eternal mindset. Even in my daily actions, I must be fully aware of the end goal which is to bring glory to God. At Liberty University this past year, we went through Colossians. Colossians 1:21-23 had a really big impact on my view of this, especially verse 23:

“If you continue in your faith, established

 and firm and do not move from the

hope held out in the gospel”

Hi! My name is Amanda. I just finished my second year studying nursing at Liberty University, and I am now an intern here at Mid-Way this summer. This past year I was an RA (Resident Assistant) at Liberty University, and I had to organize events, do curfew, and all the things along with studying and doing assignments as any other student. As most people, I was worried about my grades and exams and wanted to organize the best events for my hall. Very quickly I would forget the significance of those things and would focus on the activity of it all without prioritizing the Lord or relying on His strength to accomplish these goals.

This past year during our Campus Community, an optional ‘chapel’ on Wednesday nights, we went through Colossians 1:21-23 “Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your mindset because of your evil behavior. But now he has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in His sight, without blemish, and free from accusation – if you continue in your faith, established and firm and do not move from the hope held out in the gospel. This is the gospel that you heard and that has been proclaimed to ever creature under heaven.”

As the speaker walked through Colossians in the sermon, he talked about the daily practices in our Christian life such as reading our Bible, praying, going to church, and being in community, which are habits to continue in our faith. Many times, with school and the other responsibilities, I fell into the trap of wanting to do everything the best I could without focusing on the end goal. In school, I am not studying to be the best exam taker, but instead to be the best nurse that makes Christ known. Reading our Bibles, praying, and being in community are amazing practices that not everyone has the gift of doing freely, but they are not the end goal. The purpose is not to be the best Bible reader or prayer but to grow and glorify God and make His name known. “The end goal is Christ, and Christ is Love” – Josh Routledge. It is not about us; it is about what Christ will do through us.

"All that is not eternal is eternally useless” - C.S. Lewis

This idea is one of the biggest things the Lord has taught me through this year. I have learned that in everything we do, we must rely on the Lord’s strength, even in the things which we want to do for His Glory and His Kingdom. Practice the daily habits that the Lord has provided to grow in your faith and remember the end goal and the eternal impact in all that you do.

2 Corinthians 4:18

“So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen.

For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.”

 PRAYER TIP #16 -  Pray for an eternal mindset in your daily life.

Prayer Points:

• Lord, help me to look for the eternal purpose during daily, mundane tasks.

• Lord, help me to remember that becoming more like Jesus is my ultimate goal.

• Lord, as life gets busy, help me to prioritize my relationship with You and tap into your strength so that my life will make a difference for eternity.

• Lord, help me to bring my anxieties to You each day so that I am not carrying them in my own strength.

Suggested Prayer -

Dear Lord,

Thank You for the freedom that I have to pursue You and the disciplines that You have provided so that I may grow strong in my faith. I pray that You will be my priority, first and foremost, in everything I do. Lord, help me to have an eternal mindset, remembering that growing to become more like Christ is the end goal. Jesus, help me to glorify You and make Your name known to those who are around me.

In Jesus' Name I pray, Amen.

Your Friend,

Amanda Ruesga