In elementary, I was fascinated with underwater worlds of the ocean. At merely an eye’s glance of its surface, it can be difficult to imagine the countless sea creatures and seemingly never ending depths, and mysterious objects that rests on its floors.

For decades, adventure thirsty explorers have navigated these waters in search of sunken treasure. These expeditions discovered the burial grounds of enormous ships that sank due to sudden catastrophe. At other times, large amounts of rubbish had been found, and ordered to be removed to help preserve marine life.

Our lives can resemble the vastness of the great depths of an ocean. What lies beneath the surface isn’t always evident…a person’s history…their present…and their hopes for the future. Periodically you or I may have to go on a search to retrieve the word of encouragement that was given us. The Apostle Paul encouraged Timothy to neglect not the gift that was in him (I Timothy 4:14). Utilizing our God given gifts for God’s purpose, and seeking His wisdom are treasure.

As we seek the Lord, we may unearth buried rubble such as unrepentant sin, ungodly philosophies, and the like, that needs to be removed with His cleansing power. Satan may have even tried to create shipwrecks in your life, or have tried to pollute your waters. Nevertheless, for those who are saved, Jesus Christ is an anchor (Hebrews 6:19), and He gives pure water, which often times spiritually symbolizes the Holy Spirit, yet still speaks of thirst in the natural sense (John 4:1-30).

…May Christ dwell in your heart by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height…Ephesians 3:17-18.

Colossians 3:1-3 says that if ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.

I was extremely spiritually revived by this scripture because every now and then, my affections become too entangled in temporal, earthly affairs. How am I going to afford to complete my education? How do I compete in that pageant without dishonoring God? And so on.

While giving thought to important issues of the heart, there still calls for a balance, without crossing that fine line when giving thought becomes worry, or doubt.

I recently skimmed through a fabulous book, entitled: Lies Young Women Believe and the Truth That Sets Them Free, by Nancy Leigh DeMoss and Dannah Gresh. Well, Dannah was sitting with her daughter, and they were channel surfing, and came across MTV’s Sweet Sixteen reality show. They sparked a dialogue on whether it was fitting to watch. To make a long story short, Dannah’s daughter remarked that perhaps if she kept watching it, she may begin to act like the girls, and may even want what they want. I’m paraphrasing. Anyhow, I use this example to illustrate a principle. Aquiring an affection can be simple. If you see something enough, perhaps you will desire it, even if initially you didn’t.

If I keep mulling over those countless student loan statements (that are killing way too many trees), I get into a funk about wondering how in the world do I pay those bad boys off quickly, and never to return to accumulating anymore “good” debt.

So, I want to strike that balance. I want to set my affections on things above. This could only help with managing earthly affairs. That way, the cares of life will not override their boundaries, and distract me from serving God faithfully and effectively.