Stop Giving Your Problem More Attention Than God

When something is wrong, it can take over every conversation. You replay what happened, describe the latest setback, and rehearse what might go wrong next. The problem is real, but it is not the only thing that is real. Barry Bennett asks a searching question: Who are you glorifying with your words and attitudes?

What does it mean to magnify the Lord?

Psalm 34:1-3 gives a deliberate response: “I will bless the LORD at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth. My soul shall make its boast in the LORD; The humble shall hear of it and be glad. Oh, magnify the LORD with me, And let us exalt His name together.” David chooses to bless the Lord and speak of His goodness. Magnifying God means giving attention to who He is and what He has done. The Lord is already great; praise brings His greatness into the center of your thoughts and words. It reminds you and the people listening that God remains worthy of trust in every season. When you bless Him aloud, you give His character room to shape how you see the situation in front of you.

People can make the enemy the main subject of their lives by talking repeatedly about sickness, lost finances, a troubled marriage, or everything that feels wrong. God is not the source of evil. The devil steals, kills, and destroys, and human choices also have consequences. When every conversation centers on what is going wrong, darkness can seem to have the most authority.

Praise is a choice to talk about what God is doing and to magnify Him in the conversation. Speak about God's goodness while you face the situations in your life.

How do your words shape what you notice?

Jesus says in John 10:10, “The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.” Consider which side of that statement you talk about most: the thief's work or the abundant life Jesus gives. What you repeatedly notice and speak about can shape your expectations and the direction of your attention.

Barry illustrates this with a childhood memory. On cross-country drives, he and his sister counted Volkswagens because they were looking for them. They also passed many other kinds of cars, but their attention was set on one kind. We tend to see what we are looking for. If you look for God's provision, favor, and opportunities, you may notice good things you had overlooked. If you only search for what is wrong, that will fill your view.

That shift can begin in an ordinary moment. Begin a conversation by naming one specific way God has helped you. When fear returns, ask someone to pray and remind you of what Scripture says. These choices keep the need from becoming the only thing you are able to talk about.

Barry begins his day thanking God for specific blessings: a home, a car, his wife, and his health. Gratitude recognizes that God is good and names what He has provided. His attention moves from rehearsing the enemy's activity to speaking about God's goodness.

Gratitude also gives other people a reason to look up. A conversation shaped by praise can remind someone else of God's faithfulness and open space for hope. You can still discuss a real need, ask for help, and take wise action. Praise simply keeps your view of God larger than the problem occupying that moment.

What has God already given you?

Remember what belongs to you in Christ: God's name, Spirit, blood, authority, promises, love, joy, peace, and the shield of faith. Give thanks for the good things God has given, whether or not you feel them in a particular moment.

Psalm 5:12 says, “For You, O LORD, will bless the righteous; With favor You will surround him as with a shield.” In Christ, believers are righteous. Psalm 34:7 also says, “The angel of the LORD encamps all around those who fear Him, And delivers them.” These verses give you reasons to speak about God's favor and protection.

Hebrews 6:14 records God's promise to Abraham: “Surely blessing I will bless you, and multiplying I will multiply you.” God is active in blessing His people. Recognize Him as your giver and blesser, rather than speaking as though the devil directs everything.

Remembering these promises helps you speak from what God has supplied in Christ. His name, Spirit, authority, and promises are not empty phrases. They are reasons to give thanks and to meet the day with confidence in the Lord's care. As you turn your attention toward Him, praise becomes a steady practice rather than a response reserved for easy seasons.

What should you do when the problem returns to mind?

James 4:7 says, “Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.” Resisting the devil means submitting your thoughts and actions to God and directing your words toward the Lord's goodness.

Thank God for ordinary gifts: a place to live, food, clothes, work, people who love you, and people you can love. Begin with what God has given and ask Him for help with what you need. Praise gives the difficulty no final word.

Your words reveal who you are honoring. When you catch yourself rehearsing everything that is wrong, remember one way God has been good to you. Let praise direct your attention back to the One you trust.

This post draws from Barry Bennett's Free Indeed teaching.