Hocus Focus

The only thing that can save us from our irascibly self-centered existence is to make sure that our existence is in the service of others. Mark Shrime

Without conscious and concerted effort, our focus will always be on ourselves. What we want. What we need. What we’ll do to get what we want and need.

This focus reveals our purpose – which, if we are honest, is to bend the world and all that is in it in our favor. We desire to be seen and to be valued, and with this focus we devise actions that will garner attention, gain praise, and earn love. When we fail, as we inevitably will, we become increasingly discontent and grow more likely to reduce others to the role of competitor, ally, enemy, or tool.

Such self-centered living is destined to fail, despite our rational thoughts to the contrary and despite seeing those we idolize post their social proof. The human soul is not designed to be selfish – it is designed to serve. It is designed to be a cup that receives divine love from above and pours it out freely here below.

Soul-centered living brings freedom and opens the doorway into the kingdom of heaven. Self-centeredness, in its desperation to justify itself, has a way of pretending to be righteous with magic tricks that may fool the eye at first glance. But all that hocus focus cannot and will not ever serve us or others.

Today, we’ll expose the magic tricks that attempt to make self-centeredness disappear, and we’ll rediscover the true meaning of life.

Source Scripture

Matthew 7:21-23Luke 6:46

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Twitter: @AwestruckPod
Email: info@awestruckpodcast.com

Extras

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What Gives?

Stay away from lazy parasites, who perch on you just to satisfy their needs, they do not come to alleviate your burdens, hence, their mission is to distract, detract and extract, and make you live in abject poverty. Michael Bassey Johnson

What gives? The sun gives light and warmth. A mother gives milk and hugs and nurture. Birdsong brings smiles. The forest offers solace. The moon and the stars above give a sense of awe and perspective below. Friends provide comfort. Children bring joy. Trees bear fruit. Sheep provide wool. 

What takes? Light pollution takes away the splendor of the night sky. Thieves seize what is not theirs. Accidents, war, and disease take loved ones. Litter takes away beauty. Thorns take blood. Wolves take life.

We are attracted to what gives. We are suspicious at best or terrified at worst of what takes.

Knowing this natural law of attraction and avoidance, some costume themselves as what gives, but behind the mask is a liar. A thief. A murderer.

Today, we learn how to identify these masked marauders – particularly those who claim to give goodness and truth and guidance when in fact they are only after what they can get out of us.

To take is human. To give, divine.  

Let’s open our eyes to the divine to see what gives.

Source Scripture

Matthew 7:15-20Luke 6:43-45

Connect

Twitter: @AwestruckPod
Email: info@awestruckpodcast.com