What do we long for? Stability? Security? A settling in our hearts? A sense of perspective that transcends the demands of the day? Psalm 16:8 gives the key to these heartfelt desires.

Psalm 16:8 I have set the Lord always before me:  because He is my right hand, I shall not be moved.

This verse includes a cause and effect relationship:

• Fact – My focus is on God.
• Cause – He is the authority in my life.
• Effect – I shall not be moved (shaken from faith or my relationship with Him)

So, how do Christians attain stability in our hearts?

• Focus on Who God is – Creator, Savior, Healer, Shepherd.
• Delve into His character and get to know Him – He is love. He is good. He is ever present. He is unchanging. He is righteous. He is merciful. He is holy.
• Allow Him to be the Authority in my life – obey Him, trust Him.

God is more than we could ever imagine or understand, so He gave us a picture – Jesus. Jesus was sent to show us the Father (John 14:7-9). When we look at Jesus’ life and teaching on Earth, we are looking at and hearing the heart of the Father.

Setting our hearts on Who God is allows us to find the foundation for our soul. He is the solid Rock upon which we can build our lives.

We will never find true stability or peace in ourselves because we are in our very essence unstable humans. However, when we make the living, supreme God of the Universe the center of our focus, the changing seasons of this life cannot move us.  We are settled in the unchangeable God.

The question for me is, “Where is my focus today?”  On what are my heart and mind stayed?  If I wish to stop being tossed around by the winds of this world, my focus must be on Him.

Hebrews 12:² 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 is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. ³ For consider Him that endured such contradiction of sinners against Himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.

Photo – Providence Canyon State Park, GA – Eddy Mims