“There is only one way to develop spirituality, and that is by concentrating on God.”
- Oswald Chambers

That’s it.  That’s all we need to do – concentrate on God.  It sounds so simple.  I dare you to try it. 

Concentrating on God in a world filled with deceit, hate, materialism, greed, selfishness, and immediate gratification is not an easy task. Yet, I have found, it truly is the only way to grow while on this spiritual journey. 

So, you may ask, what exactly does that mean – “concentrating on God”? 

It means this:

…seeing God’s face in the face of the homeless beggar on the corner,
…trusting God’s promises as society breaks down around me,
…feeling God’s love when disappointed by a friend,
…believing in God’s faithfulness when nothing I do seems to be working,
…remembering God’s forgiveness of me before I judge someone else,
…praying anyway when all I feel is doubt,
…taking each next step with faithfulness, even as my mind shrewdly rationalizes dishonest behaviors,
…knowing God’s heart lives within my own.

I have found that the only way to achieve any of this is to ask God for help. That’s where the “concentrating on God” began for me – in knowing that, of my own will, none of this would be possible. I need God’s grace to love the beggar, live without fear in this society, be relieved of expectations, continue to move forward, pray without ceasing, be released from the lies of my mind, and to remember God’s presence within.*

*Read John 5:19