What You Focus On Grows

Ever wonder why some people find joy in the most challenging circumstances while others struggle to see blessings even in abundance? Today's episode explores the powerful connection between our expectations and our experiences.
Today I remind us all that while painful circumstances are inevitable in our lives, God l can and wants to help us experience His peace even on the midst of those difficulties.
Whether you're facing challenges at work, in relationships, or in your spiritual journey, this five-minute devotional offers valuable perspective on retraining your mind to expect good things from God. When we focus on His truth rather than letting external influences control our thinking, we position ourselves to recognize His blessings all around us. Take five minutes today to reset your expectations and experience the difference it can make in your outlook.

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:05):
Good morning and welcome to Starting Right with
Danny Mac.
I'm going to be here everyMonday to Friday to help you get
a great five-minute start toyour day.
So grab your cup of coffee, sitback, relax and let me help you
start your day right.
One of my favorite verses isfound in Psalm 126 and verse 3.

(00:26):
It says the Lord has done greatthings for us and we are filled
with joy.
I believe it is God's desirethat we live our lives and we
are able to experience the joyof God, the joy of the Lord, in
every part of our lives, allthrough our lives.
That doesn't mean we're notgoing to have problems and
difficulties.
Sometimes things will beextremely difficult and

(00:47):
extremely painful.
But after even the worst oftimes that we have to face, the
peace and love and joy of Godcan still be there for us to
help us overcome the pain ofwhat we've been through.
But did you know that joy is asmuch an attitude as it is
anything else?
If we're not able to maintain acorrect attitude about this
life, about God, about our walkwith God and what we believe

(01:11):
that God is able and willing todo, we at times are going to
struggle Over.
In Romans 8, verse 6,.
It says the mind of sinful manis death, but the mind
controlled by the Spirit is lifeand peace.
There are so many things thattry to control our minds,
whether it be what we watch orwhat we hear, or the people

(01:31):
around us.
All of those forces are tryingto draw us to focus on something
, and they're not necessarilybad things.
But the only thing that willreally keep our minds filled
with joy and peace is when we'refocused on what God tells us.
It becomes a part of ourattitude.
What do you expect today ortomorrow or next week or next

(01:52):
month?
What are your expectations?
I know I have a hard time withthat.
Sometimes, when I'm facing whatseems to be extremely
challenging and difficultsituations I'm coming up against
, I have a hard time keeping mymind focused on being positive
and wanting to look towards thebest.
But when I dig back into God'sWord and I talk to Him I listen

(02:14):
to songs of worship andencouragement, I talk to people
who will lift me up andencourage me and won't let me
get dragged down Then my wholeattitude changes and I come back
up and I have strength to facewhat I'm going to go through and
strength to face it withoutfear.
Let me tell you a story todayabout a man who once went diving
with his brother off the coastof Bora Bora.

(02:34):
There were two other diversthat accompanied them on the
boat, a man and his 10-year-oldson.
The father kept asking arethere any sharks around here?
And everyone kept reassuringhim no, nothing dangerous,
nothing to worry about.
As the father and son plungedinto the water, one of the other
men said I hope that guy isgoing to be okay because he knew

(02:57):
that they were almost certainlygoing to see sharks, although
they were diving in a lagoon andnot on the outer reef.
The lagoon was known to be fullof white-tip reef sharks, but
still they felt justified inreassuring the man because these
sharks were not considereddangerous unless you really
provoked them.
The father on his dive wastaking some pictures underwater

(03:19):
in the coral and a white-tipswam by Soon.
There were other sharks thatappeared.
They passed to his left and tohis right, gliding over him and
under him.
Tip swam by Soon.
There were other sharks thatappeared.
They passed to his left and tohis right, gliding over him and
under him and all around him.
He probably had a dozenencounters within 10 minutes.
Shortly afterwards, back on theboat, all he said was beautiful
dive, wasn't it?
Everybody agreed beautiful.

(03:40):
And then he said thank God, Ididn't see any sharks.
And then he said you know thatmost often we receive what we
expect to receive, and when welearn to expect good things from
God, he's willing to give themto us.
That's why, in Philippians 4 andverse 8, paul writes this and

(04:01):
now, dear brothers and sisters,one final thing Fix your
thoughts on what is true andhonorable and right and pure and
lovely and admirable.
Think about things that areexcellent and worthy of praise.
Paul is reminding us rightthere that our minds are to be
focused on all of the goodthings that God has for us, all
of the wonderful, powerfulthings that he wants to do for

(04:21):
us and in us, because when wefocus on those things that God
has for us, we will start to seethose things becoming more real
and active in our lives.
I hope that you choose toexpect good things from God
today, that he will be with you,that he will guide you, that he
will give you something tolaugh about and enjoy, no matter
what else you are facing.

(04:43):
Keep your hearts open to whatGod has.
Keep your expectations high onHis love and His goodness being
poured out upon you, and Godwill be with you and he will
bless you.
I hope you have a great day, myfriends, we will talk again
tomorrow.
Thank you for listening today,and I invite you to join me

(05:05):
Monday to Friday, right here onStarting Right with Danny Mac.