Sometimes problems are like a newly chipped tooth. Huh? Bear with me.

What’s the first thing you do when you chip your tooth? We run our tongue over and over, and over, and over and over it until we are sooooo OVER it. We want to stop. And we do.

Until we aren’t thinking about not doing it anymore, then we find our tongue playing with that new little distraction over and over and over again.

It’s like when a problem, a hurt, an offense or anxiety is in our focus and our mind rolls the situation over and over and over and OVER. Like our tongue and a chipped tooth.

We Want It To STOP! But HOW?!

How do we truly shift our focus and change our state of mind. How do we get our minds off of our problem and onto the promise?

We PRAISE our way to the promise.

Sounds churchy, right? SURELY that won’t work. I mean it sounds too simple. Really?

Our mind has to stop and listen to what our mouth is saying. And the Bible says our words have power (Prov 18:21, Prov 16:24, Matt 12:37) and science backs that up with proof. Our focus determines our reality.

Add to that the fact that when we’re worshipful, when we praise, our FOCUS SHIFTS to the blessings, the miracles, the good that is happening around us all the time.

Our mind can only entertain one thought at a time. And when we take every thought into captivity (2 Corin 10:5) and replace the problem with praise we SHIFT, we RE-FOCUS our thoughts, our spirit, our emotions and our life!

The outcome of our life is determined by our outlook on life.

Worshiping is zooming out on the problem and refocusing on the big picture.

It’s refocusing on the fact that 2000 years ago, Jesus died on the cross to pay the penalty for my sin. It’s refocusing on the fact that God unconditionally loves me when I least expect and sure don’t deserve it.

It’s refocusing on the fact that I have eternity with God to look forward to in a place where there is no morning or sorrow or pain.

It’s putting God back in His rightful place, the forefront of our hearts and minds and having faith in Him that He works all things together for our good! (Romans 8:28)