Practising the Presence of God
As followers of Jesus, the most important thing we can possess in this life is our relationship with the Father. In fact it is not just about this life but the life to come – eternal life! There are so many distractions that come to turn our attention away from this one key relationship with our creator. These things are not necessarily unimportant but at times lack the proper timing and emphasis in our lives, so we become unbalanced.
Chasing Happiness
One of the underlying pursuits of modern western civilisation is the pursuit of happiness and pleasure. How much money is enough? For John D. Rockefeller (oil industry business magnate) the answer was, “just a little bit more”. Pursuing “things” or money can bring us momentary happiness and can help create a sense of mastery and achievement in life. Though, without proper limits and guiding values, the pursuit of “things”, and the feelings and beliefs we attach to those things, can become addictive and unhelpful.
A Brighter Future
Often in life just like Peter, we can feel cornered and trapped by circumstances beyond our control. It can seem like our future isn’t looking hopeful or bright and perhaps there are even people eagerly expecting and waiting for us to fail or fall. It can seem like the worst outcome is inevitable.
Sticks and Straw
If we have a house made of sticks and straw, its no wonder we cannot withstand the storms of this life.
