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“Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things…” (Colossians 3:2)
Alright, I admit it. I tend to be a worrier.
And a lot of the time, I worry about things that don’t really matter in the big scheme of things. Oh sure, they seem important in the moment, but in the end, they are a speck of dust in the whole of my life.
So many things in life are temporary. They are miniscule. They don’t last. They change.
But there is something that never changes, something that lasts—or rather, Someone.
El Olam means the Everlasting God or the Eternal God. According to Ann Spangler, in her book Praying the Names of God, “El Olam is the Hebrew name for the God who has no beginning and no end, the God for whom a day is like a thousand years and a thousands years are like a day. His plans stand firm forever, plans to give you a future full of hope. … He is the God whose love endures forever.”
I don’t know about you, but that gives me chills.
God is the ONE THING in this whole world we can count on being the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow. He is the ONE THING that doesn’t change or shift.
Because time? It ebbs and flows.
People? As great as they are, they are fickle and they will at some point fail us.
Money? It’s here today and gone tomorrow.
Success? Fleeting.
Why do we spend so much time chasing and worrying about the things that have no permanence? Why not instead focus our energy on pursuing the ONE THING that will always be in the same spot, and who will always meet us there?
With His arms wide open.
He endures forever…and so does His love.
YOUR TURN: Do you find it a challenge to stay focused on El Olam instead of the temporary trappings of this world? Any tips for keeping our eyes on Him?
*The winner of the Beth Vogt giveaway is Stacy Jensen! Congrats!
Most of the time I live without worry but when I have to deal with some kind of conflict…my imagination goes off the deep end. lol I don't handle it well. Thanks for the encouraging post! My son and I were just talking about how numbers are infinite and he was like, "So mom, God is like a number, right?" LOL
That's so cute! I love when kids "get it", sometimes better than us adults!
I've felt so Ecclesiastic lately waking up with thoughts about how it's all just dust in the wind. But sometimes I think it's good to have these thoughts–this perspective that my life is small and my time is short.
~ Wendy
It certainly helps us seize the day, so to speak…and helps us remember to not waste time worrying, etc.
Wonderful words of wisdom, friend. Last night I worried about how to pay upcoming college tuition. My friend wisely said, "One dollar at a time." And she was so right. God continues to be Jehovah Jireh. He will always be El Olam.
One dollar at a time, one day at a time. I struggle with that one for sure.
Beautifully said, Linds! I can trip up and get focused on earthly tings, but El Olam has a wonderful way of nudging me back to the things that matter. Kingdom lasting things.
Love it, love you!
Yep, He always nudges us back and sends us wonderful reminders along the way!
And I love you too! 😀
Thank you for these words, to supplement my morning devotions, Lindsay. Prompting these thoughts:
Everlasting – and He made us in His image. What a daunting and at the same time comforting thought. I'm a worrier, too. To keep my mind fixed on him, when worry raises it's whiney head, I purposefully think of God – what He might be trying to show me, how He might be trying to strengthen me, prepare me, test me – and then I ask for His help. And then I choose to trust Him, that whatever comes is from His hand.
I like that. When we worry, we should think about God, and focus on Him instead of the worry. He is our Everpresent Help…
Great reminder, Lindsay! I need to start focusing on the Eternal and not the temporal…
Me too, Ruth. Me too!
Such sweet, strong encouragement, Lindsay. Thank you!
Thanks, Amanda. I'm so glad when God brings my musings and uses them to bless others. Oftentimes, I find we're all struggling with the same things…
Great reminder, Lindsay! Makes me think of the house on the rocks versus the house on the sand (that went SPLAT, as my son loves to sing). 🙂
LOL! Yep, we definitely want to put our emphasis on the things that stand firm. The ONE THING that stands firm, that is.
I love to study the names of God. Thank you for this reminder that the only ONE we can ALWAYS trust to be there for us is God. Although I still struggle at times with worry and anxiety, it's nothing like it used to be. Through self-discipline and perseverance I've learned to keep a running dialogue (usually in my head, not verbally) with God. In this way I'm continually aware of His presence and availability whenever the fears and worries creep in, and I can turn them over to Him more quickly than I once did.
What great advice, Teri! Thanks for sharing and thanks so much for stopping by.