Where my attention and focus should be

To you I lift up my eyes, O you who are enthroned in the heavens! Behold, as the eyes of servants look to the hand of their master, as the eyes of a maidservant to the hand of her mistress, so our eyes look to the Lord our God, till he has mercy upon us. (Psalm 123:1-2 ESV)

Our help is in the name of the Lord, who made heaven and earth. (Psalm 124:8 ESV)

Those who trust in the Lord are like Mount Zion, which cannot be moved, but abides forever. As the mountains surround Jerusalem, so the Lord surrounds his people, from this time forth and forevermore. (Psalm 125:1-2 ESV)

When the Lord restored the fortunes of Zion, we were like those who dream. Then our mouth was filled with laughter, and our tongue with shouts of joy; then they said among the nations, “The Lord has done great things for them.” The Lord has done great things for us; we are glad. Restore our fortunes, O Lord, like streams in the Negeb! Those who sow in tears shall reap with shouts of joy! He who goes out weeping, bearing the seed for sowing, shall come home with shouts of joy, bringing his sheaves with him. (Psalm 126:1-6 ESV)

I have no idea

what it means to be a Christian.

I wake up in quiet, make a cup of tea, check email or facebook, pet my dog, make breakfast...

I don't worry about where my next meal comes from, in fact, it's already in the fridge.

I take for granted simple pleasures of saying a peace-filled goodnight to Mr. Darcy as he lounges next to my bed. In the light of morning I go out to the barn and ride my beautiful young horse. I drive a fancy new truck. I have a closet full of clothes, most of which I rarely wear.

I have no idea what it's like to fear for my life because of my faith. I have no idea what it's like to run in terror, to be a refugee, to be an outcast. I have no idea what it's like to lose absolutely everything because of who I am ethnically or religiously.

I know this is an age-old-problem for believers -- this question of why did God put me here and not there?

And I have no answers, except gratitude, which sometimes feels fake and not enough.

Lord, come quickly. And in the meantime, give me strength and laser-straight focus to pray for my brothers and sisters in persecution, while I'm surrounded and distracted by affluence and comfort.