How’s Your Vision?
How’s your vision? Are you only focused on this world that you can see with your physical eyes? Or are you aware of the spiritual world that for now you cannot touch or see but know in your heart and …believe by faith?
If you’re a Christian, you actually live in two worlds.
You live this earthly life in your fleshly body. You can see, hear, taste and touch it. We all know that.
But as a Christian, you also belong to the Kingdom of God. You have the Holy Spirit living within you. Jesus sits at the right hand of the Father interceding on your behalf.
Romans 8:34b says:
“Christ Jesus, who died – more than that, who was raised to life – is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us.”
I don’t know about you but …I find that amazing!
I think Paul understood this. He was stoned, shipwrecked, beaten, thrown in jail, thrown out of towns and yet …he still continued to preach the Good News of the Gospel. Nothing could stop Paul because he had his eyes on the Kingdom world.
In Romans 8:16-18 Paul says:
“The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. Now if we are children, then we are heirs – heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory. I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.”
I don’t know about you but sometimes when I’m suffering, I get so focused on my problems. I pray and ask God for deliverance. But just maybe through my present sufferings, God will be glorified. Personally, I think I could glorify Him in easier ways but I’m not God and His ways are so much higher than mine. So, for now I pray for His wisdom, His strength, His peace.
Maybe you suffer from a chronic illness, or have a difficult family situation or your husband lost his job and you don’t know how you’re going to pay your bills. I’m sure you pray and ask God to get you out of this situation. But what if He has a purpose you don’t understand yet and through your trials, God will be glorified?
It’s a different way of looking at our circumstances, isn’t it? It’s like putting on new glasses and everything looks clearer. Would you consider your difficulties from a spiritual perspective?
Lord, we come before you today and thank you that we are called children of God. Open our eyes that we might see not only with our physical eyes but with our spiritual eyes. We pray for your intervention in our current circumstances but in the midst of them may you be glorified. May others see Jesus in us as we face trials and suffering. May we demonstrate the fruit of the Spirit to others you place in our lives. In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.
Debbie Petras
Heart Choices
This is so similar to what I read and studied in my quiet time this morning. Our battle, our struggles is not with the physical but with the spiritual. I ask God for renewed eyes and to please magnify his glory through me.
Beautiful. Have a wonderful day.
Debbie, What a profound post this morning. WE should desire that God is glorified in our lives, marriages, families and trials so that others may see Him. Your heart in this shines through continually.
I would love to connect more so if you have the time email me…
Blessings on your day.
Noreen
Debbie,
Powerful.
True.
Beautifully said. A great reminder! I absolutely love Romans 8:34. I stand in agreement with your prayer as well.
I learned long ago to NOT pray to get out of something but rather I pray for the strength, wisdom and more of God’s grace to go/get through it and to glean whatever He wants me to know from it.
This was a process to get to that point of mindset and prayer and even still I remind my flesh often. I love you girl!
Lori, I hear you loud and clear.
Noreen, I want to connect more with you too. I’m email you.
Lisa, thank you for your words of encourgement.
Love you all.
So true, it helps to change our perspective. Have a good weekend.
This is such a good word for us who are going through trials, Debbie. It is wise to focus on Christ every step of the way and let the world see His strength being poured into us. It’s the only way. And don’t we want the world to see Jesus and not us? That’s where real life is!
Happy Friday dear sister.
Mary
Very powerful, bless you my friend.
I don’t like struggles, but I know they help me to grow. Some days it seems like smooth sailing, but others, oh my – no fun…
Thank you so much for sharing your wisdom with us, Debbie.
Thank you for sharing. I just wrote about pain and suffering too. Guess the Lord is trying to teach us all about this hard to understand topic.
God bless you.
Dear Debbie,
Your message was just what was needed this morning. I am writing a letter to a prisoner who is having a hard time dealing with difficult circumstances. This is just perfect for him, so I will send him a copy in the mail today. Thank you for your thoughts.
Denise- thank you for your faithfulness in reading our posts.
Iris- thank you for the privilege of allowing me to join in and write here on Laced with Grace.
Tiffany- I hear more and more about pain and suffering lately. I’ll be stopping by to visit your blog.
Sue- I appreciate your comment and personally know your kind and giving heart for others. I pray that the message will be used to help this young man.
Debbie,
Girl this is so right…If you’re a Christian, you actually live in two worlds…
So true.. so true. Excellent post. Hugs