“We do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. Our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So, we don’t fix our eyes on what is seen, but on what is unseen. What is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.” 2 Cor. 4:16-18
Lord Jesus, I wish my Apple “Find My” app would work on everything. I could push one button and instantly locate stuff, and shorten my frustration period and occasional fear of senility. But as I meditate on today’s Scripture (2 Cor.4:16-18), I notice “losing heart” is more of gaze issue than a memory issue. I can have tired brain cells and yet grow a bigger, peace-filled, hope-smitten Gospel-heart. That’s what I want, Jesus. That’s what I want all the way Home.
Whatever we intentionally gaze upon and ponder—whatever seizes our attention, captures our curiosity, fills our imagination, shapes our dreams, and enflames our hearts… these things impact us more than anything else. Data recall is one thing, heart-doxology is another.
Jesus, free me and my friends to be more like the aging apostle Paul, whose “light and momentary troubles” (2 Cor. 11:21-33) didn’t depress him, but delighted him about what is to come. In all his aging, suffering, and “outward wasting,” steady inward daily renewing never stopped. Though his physical eyesight grew dimmer, you and out eternal inheritance grew 1000 times more clear and dear. Hallelujah!
Jesus, help me and my friends spend less time worrying about memory loss and more energy in gaze-fixing. Open the eyes of our hearts, Jesus, and show us more and more of your truth, goodness, and beauty. So Very Amen.