It’s a new week. How are you entering it? Are you groaning, sighing, seeing only the piles of obligations that stretch in front of you? Did you wake up with a sigh or a song? Let’s be reminded that we can choose our perspective and our responses.
Let me offer a little homely illustration. Yesterday, I picked up my container of recyclable cans as I left for church, planning to empty the container into the bin alongside the garage. Just as I opened the door, the container slipped in my hand, spilling cans onto the floor, making a mess. As irritation began to rise, so did the recall of the Word that counsels “in everything give thanks.” I repeated the phrase like a mantra while I cleaned up the mess and then drove off to church with a much better attitude than I might have developed if I gave in to the temptation to feel annoyed over a trivial incident.
I realize that the circumstances of life are often much more challenging than a mess on the kitchen floor, but the principle remains the same – we can choose joy and thanksgiving, opening up to the Spirit of God and letting Him reshape our problems into possibilities, what we perceive as an obstacle into an opportunity to experience His grace.
As you look over those responsibilities of the week are you seeing only the weight of obligations that others are imposing on you, or are you seeking out the opportunities that life and the Holy Spirit have prepared for you?
A great prayer is for ‘new’ sight. A story from the Old Testament book of 2 Kings teaches us the importance of seeing with eyes that are informed by faith!
Elisha, the mighty preacher in Israel, was pursued by the armies of Syria. He and his servant were in a village called Dothan. One morning the servant went out to see those soldiers surrounding the town and knew that capture and death were inevitable! For good reason, he was terrified. He reported to Elisha - “Oh no, my lord! What shall we do?”
Elisha saw the problem and because he had eyes of faith also saw the solution. He told that fearful man - "Don’t be afraid! For there are more on our side than on theirs!" Then Elisha prayed, "O Lord, open his eyes and let him see!" The Lord opened the young man’s eyes, and when he looked up, he saw that the hillside around Elisha was filled with horses and chariots of fire. As the Aramean army advanced toward him, Elisha prayed, "O Lord, please make them blind." So the Lord struck them with blindness as Elisha had asked." (2 Kings 6:16-18, NLT)
Take that ‘impossible’ person to the Lord and ask for insight
to deal with the relationship.
Present that situation that stands in your way like a mountain and pray to ‘see’
the way through.
Carry your broken heart to God in prayer and ask that He will give you courage
to let it heal.
God does not ask us to ignore the reality of our lives, but He does teach us that reality is not just what we see with our natural eyes!
George Barna writes this about the kind of Christians that gain a God-shaped insight for life.
• People of prayer.
Visionaries don’t stop praying about their calling. They keep at it, striving to
remain sensitive to God’s leading as they seek to carry it out.
• People of action.
They carry out a plan by organizing it into manageable steps. As they seek God’s
provision along the way, sure enough, God grants them progress one step at a
time.
• People of perseverance.
Regardless of obstacles, they are driven to follow God’s leading. They
are unshakable in their resolve to do His will.
• People of excitement.
Life is no longer a grind. They know God has called them to a special outreach.
This is an electrifying experience: why shouldn’t
they be excited? (Discipleship Journal)
Do you dread tomorrow?
Pray this simple line - "Lord, open my eyes and let me see!"
Trust God with that situation that you see as a problem. Ask Him to turn obligations into opportunities in which His power and His honor shines through you, where you are, at this present time.
The word from the Word is a familiar promise. Spend a few moments meditating on this passage as you start this new week and let God show you the opportunities that are all around you and the power that He will pour into you.
“Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.” (Philippians 4)
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