Friday, May 17, 2013

Seeing the World Clearly through Jesus

There is a saying that goes, "She sees the world through rose-colored glasses."

This simply means that someone sees the world in a positive and optimistic way.

Our mindset, experience, and influences around us determine how we are going to view certain things and situations. As Christians, have we allowed God to put his "glasses" on us to view things more like the way He does?

Through study, prayer, and implementing His teaching in our lives, our take on things and actions should change to that of God's.

I believe that many of us as Christians are allowing the influence of the world to affect our thinking. Are we as Christian women allowing the mentality of "I am woman, hear me roar" affect the way we view people and situations? Or, are we allowing the mindset of Christ to bestow love, humbleness, kindness, self-control and gentleness to take over our hearts? (Galatians 5:22-23, James 4:10, 1st Peter 5:6)

When you enter a situation of someone angrily lashing out at you, what is your first thought of what to do? It's usually to lash back. However, for someone with the love of Christ in their hearts, we train ourselves to make the decision that we aren't going to do that. We will give a gentle answer, an honest answer, and a loving answer (Proverbs 15:1, Ephesians 4:15, Ephesians 4:25). Our eyes should see that person as a soul who needs the love of God in them.

When something bad happens in our world, such as a war, natural disaster, or mass murder, we shouldn't have to question God why it happens. It happens because of sin and/or because of Satan trying to destroy people's faith and lives (1st Peter 5:8). We should just see it as an opportunity to do even more good for the cause of Christ or to grow. Bad things are going to happen in this life and there's really not a whole lot we can do about it.

 1st Peter 4:12 says, "Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you."

Our eyes and our hearts will only open to Jesus' sight if we allow them to be opened. With Him and His words in our hearts we can see the world differently. To fully allow God to change us, we must let go of a worldly mindset and let God's word change us from the inside out. (James 4:8, Hebrews 4:12)

Pride too often shadows our judgment when we choose to hold onto something so tightly that we know we shouldn't be hanging onto. Until we can overcome that pride, and learn what it really means to love God, only then can we see how God wants us to be and how we must view this world. We can begin to see this world for what it is, see it for what it could be, and we can see the joy that will come after our work on this earth is done.

(P.S.: I highly encourage you to look up the verses referenced here on your own. Don't take my word for it!)

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