Morning devotions have a way of re-orienting the mind and soul. Quiet time before the Lord in His word, wanting to hear the voice of His Spirit, has a way of recalibrating “true north.”

What’s amazing, is how only a 24-hour period can so disorient you. So busy. So much stuff crammed in our calendars. So many things to be concerned about. Not saying they’re not legitimate things . . . just that they are many things. They are the “Martha things” — things about which we become anxious and troubled, things that distract (Lk. 10:40-41). That’s why we need to make time for the one “necessary thing”, being a Mary who sits at the Lord’s feet and listens to Him (Lk. 10:39, 42). And this morning, for me, He resets my internal GPS towards a city.

These all died in faith, not having received the things promised, but having seen them and greeted them from afar, and having acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth. For people who speak thus make it clear that they are seeking a homeland. If they had been thinking of that land from which they had gone out, they would have had opportunity to return. But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared for them a city.

(Hebrews 11:13-16 ESV)

Except for Enoch (11:5), they all died. Abel and Noah, Abraham and Sarah. Though they considered Him faithful who had promised (11:11), and though they had tasted and sampled the fulfillment of those promises during their lifetime, they but greeted them from afar before leaving this earth. They walked by faith, and they died in faith, not having received the fullness of the things promised. And that, because they were seeking a homeland.

Regardless of what earthly passport they possessed, they desired a better country. A country literally out of this world. A heavenly country. And so, on earth they lived as strangers and exiles, believing that God who brought them into relationship as their God, had prepared for them a city.

A homeland. A better country. A city.

Commence recalibration. Refocus on the long game. Set your mind on things above (Col. 3:2).

And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. . . And I saw no temple in the city, for its temple is the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb. And the city has no need of sun or moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and its lamp is the Lamb.

(Revelation 21:2, 22-23 ESV)

Another 24-hour period, Lord willing, is before us. Another day–though filled with very real tasks to do and concerns to be concerned about–to walk by faith and not by sight (2Cor. 5:7). To remember we’re just passing through. To serve faithfully here while sure fully of a homeland there. Taking care of business now even as we’re homesick for a better country then. To know that we’re not going it alone, for God is not ashamed to be called their God. Another day, Lord willing, to live in anticipation of a city.

Only by His grace. Always for His glory.