From Self-Centered to God-Centered

Finally, Saul the son of Kish was chosen. 

But when they looked for him, he was nowhere to be found.

The people prayed, "Our LORD, is Saul here?"

 "Yes," the LORD answered, "he is hiding behind the baggage." 

1 Samuel 10:21-22 cev

But some scoundrels said, 

“How can this fellow save us?” 

They despised him and brought him no gifts. 

But Saul kept silent. 

1 Samuel 10:27 niv

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"Self-consciousness constitutes the opposite of God-consciousness.

Rather thank gratefully rejoicing in the privilege 

God was freely extending to him,

Saul's concern ran to himself

and what others would think of him."

-- Beth Moore from the study "David"

This stuff of self

pulls and drags

holding me down,

miring me in the muddiness of this world. 

Pleasing people

is an endless rat-race,

running on an endless wheel

that exhausts and does not fulfill.

Living up to the pictures in my head

is impossible and so defeating. 

I cannot do it.

Focusing on self

brings death.

What is the remedy?

What brings life and peace?

"You can't worship two gods at once. 

Loving one god, you'll end up hating the other. 

Adoration of one feeds contempt for the other. 

You can't worship God and Money both.

If you decide for God, living a life of God-worship, 

it follows that you don't fuss about what's on the table at mealtimes 

or whether the clothes in your closet are in fashion. 

There is far more to your life than the food you put in your stomach, 

more to your outer appearance than the clothes you hang on your body. 

Look at the birds, free and unfettered, 

not tied down to a job description, careless in the care of God. 

And you count far more to him than birds. 

What I'm trying to do here is to get you to relax, 

to not be so preoccupied with getting, 

so you can respond to God's giving. 

People who don't know God and the way he works 

fuss over these things, but you know both God and how he works. 

Steep your life in God-reality, God-initiative, God-provisions. 

Don't worry about missing out. 

You'll find all your everyday human concerns will be met.

Give your entire attention to what God is doing right now, 

and don't get worked up about what may or may not happen tomorrow. 

God will help you deal with whatever hard things come up when the time comes"

Matthew 6:25-26, 31-34 msg