Keeping a godly focus Whoever claims to live in him must live as Jesus did. —1 John 2:6
H
ow does transformation on the caregiving journey work in practice? What can we do in our daily routines to abide in Christ and allow God to change us, so that we “live as Jesus did” (1 John 2:6)?
Appreciate others. Learn to see the blessings poured out around you every day. Too often we choose to see the negative, but we can learn to see the positive and express appreciation to others. Ask God to open your eyes to His blessings.
Here’s one useful way to remember some practical things you can do to give your caregiving a godly focus: the MARIE principle.
Reinforce biblical truth. We need to make the Word of God the standard for our thinking and actions, and not our own personality, opinions, preferences, or comfort. This means learning to think, speak, walk, and care biblically. It means submitting our thinking, our will, and all we have to Him. And it may mean having to lay down what we imagine are our rights.
Magnify God. Practise the
power of praise. Focus your tongue and thoughts on God’s goodness, who He is, and all that He has done. When we grumble, what we’re really saying is that God is not good and has given us a raw deal. When we magnify Him, we acknowledge His sovereign lordship and affirm that no matter what happens, we can trust in a good and loving heavenly Father.
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Intercept negativity. As a caregiver, it’s easy to slip into negative patterns and speech. We want to vent our frustration
