A former pastor used to say "keep the main thing, the main thing." And, he was right. Too often we lose focus and before long we end up off course and away from the direction in which God intended for us.

I got an email today about a particular campaign push. A group of people are encouraging those "like-minded" individuals (their words, not mine) to send mail to a particular place in a particular colored envelope on a particular day for a particular cause. And, while their intent may be good, their aim is misguided. For this said cause, the problem is not the person or institution to which they are addressing the mail. The problem is the underlying sin.

The person/institution to which this group is directing their anger/anguish/outrage toward had nothing to do with the condition that is at hand. In fact, the perpetrators are those who made the decision to participate in an act that could and often does lead to a particular condition. This choice, in the wrong environment, is sin. Yet, this group, has wrongly tried to place the blame on this one person/one institution. This group is not keeping the main thing, the main thing.

So, therefore, please consider everything and every angle when you make your decisions. Keep the main thing, the main thing. We are not living to blame others for our own choices, but instead we are striving to be accountable to the decisions that we do make. We are striving to keep God as our focus. We are striving to become more-Christlike; keeping the main thing, the main thing.

Keep your focus on the main thing.

I bet you already know that I’m about to talk about a song… This morning, the lyrics that are floating around my head are “standing, standing, standing on the promises of God my Savior, standing, standing, yes, I’m standing on the Word that’s in my heart.” Which brings me to an interesting place this morning.

What Word is in my heart?

There are many different ways that the Word can get in your heart.
(a) Attend church and as the pastor preaches and you are willing (the two have to go together, then you will get the Word in your heart. If your heart is hard, then you won’t get the Word in your heart. If you are receptive, then it can seep on in.
(b) Listen to music that teaches the Word of God. You cannot get the Word in your heart by listening to things that contradict the Word of God. Those things don’t agree.
(c) Study your Bible and Christian-related resources. Notice the order. Bible first. When you study for yourself, you feed yourself – your spirit. And, once you have feasted on the Word, it is stored in your heart.
(d) Talk with others that have the Word in their heart. They are always ready to share their experiences with the Word of God. Yes, they are – so be ready! Have some time on your hands! :-)

So, presuming that you already have some Word in your heart, it’s time for an examination. What’s in there?

It’s important to take inventory so that you have the appropriate equipment to stand on in the time of storm. It is not enough to know just one thing about God – He’s multi-faceted. He’s multi-dimensional. We can never learn it all but we must learn of Him. How can you say that you love someone when you don’t know them?

So, take a heart inventory. And when you are done, know exactly what you have to stand on.

Music ministers to me. No matter what I am doing, at some point, a song may pop in my head that speaks to my direct situation or provides some wisdom and guidance that I can use in my counseling. I love the ministry of music.

That’s why it is so important that we pay attention to music today. Music has a way of getting into our very spirits. When we listen to God-glorifying music, we are prone to respond in worship. When we listen to devil-glorifying music – the same applies.

Now, I know that some of you just shrugged or had an adverse reaction to my last statement. But, it’s still true. Pay attention to what you listen to and then watch how you respond.

When you listen to praise music, don’t you just find yourself glorifying God by clapping your hands or singing along? Now, compare that to when you find yourself listening to non-Christian radio or songs.

If that song has a strong beat, other parts of your body begin to move – check out what’s moving….

When I used to listen to secular music, it was easy to move from the two-step (you know that side-to-side thing we do when we are warming up to take over the dance floor) – anyway – I could move from the two-step to full-fledged dances that I would not dare do in church in front of an assembly of worshippers. Hmmmm. My flesh and spirit were not agreeing. So, I had to cut that type of dancing lose. I was a young Christian then and well, the Holy Spirit had to teach me that I should and could do better than that with the body that God gave me. And, back then, my body could really move!

Now, not so much. But, with age comes wisdom!!!

On GMA this morning, there was a discussion on lyrics that on the surface appeared innocent but in actuality were far from innocent. They mentioned Brittany Spears’ song that is #35 right now on the Billboards – I missed the title of the song – sorry. And, then they gave the classic example of Puff the Magic Dragon. And, well, everyone knows what was going on there.

Children were listening to these songs and figuring out the meaning. Pre-teens, y’all.

So, please, be careful about what you let minister to you. It can shape your direction in a way that you do not need to be going.