Everyone has a personal worldview, and that worldview affects how we see, experience and respond to the world around us.
What do you see throughout your day? How do you experience and respond to the world around you?
An interesting thing that happens to me often, is that I see a cross in the most unexpected places and always unexpectedly. I am never looking for these crosses when they appear.
Very often I see "a cross" while I'm walking through our pine forest. I'll be praying and look down at just the right moment to see two sticks forming a cross on the ground right in front of me, which always catches me off-guard because, well, its a pine forest...there are ALOT of sticks laying on the ground. Sometimes they are so perfectly situated to form a cross, that it's hard to believe they just fell that way, but I've asked my husband and he's not doing it. So unless the deer and the squirrels are playing tricks on me...
Sometimes I'll look up in the sky while praying or driving or both, and see a cross formed by the contrail of an airplane. Once, I was down on my knees praying, it was a very special day in my life and a very heart-felt prayer, and I opened my eyes to see a cross formed on the back of the leather chair where I was kneeling. It was formed by the sunshine coming through the window pane and reflecting just right to make the shape of a cross in front of me. It was literally there one minute and gone the next. And there have been many, many more. I refer to these instances as "God-winks". They are very personal and always serve to remind me that God is with me, that He sees me, knows me and hears me. These God-winks always point me to Jesus.
My husband suggested that I have a photographer take some photos of me for ministry purposes, and I chose our property for the location. Both my husband and I go on daily prayer walks on our property, so it is a special place to us. The photograph of me above is from that photo shoot. I am a photographer myself and had a portrait studio for twelve years. As I was going through the images, I came across this one. Do you see the cross? I saw it instantly! I could not believe it. I'm sure the photographer did not see it when she made that image. She positioned me there solely for the lighting. But just behind me, two tree limbs form a cross. It's a trompe l'oeil effect. It looks as though I'm standing at the foot of a cross. And no, this isn't photoshop!
For me, that was a God-wink.
Again I ask, what do you see on a given day? What stands out to you? Do you see The Cross?
We tend to notice that which is important to us. We notice the things that we think about often. What do you think about most of the time? What is most important to you? "For as a man thinks in his heart, so is he..." Proverbs 23:7
I've used a literal example of "seeing a cross" from my personal experience NOT so that you will go out and start looking for "crosses" or God-winks in your own life. Remember, I'm never looking for these things when they appear. Jesus said "a wicked and adulterous generation seeks for signs..." Matthew 16:4. We are never to "seek for signs" in order to know the will of God for our lives or for guidance. We are to seek Him - Jesus Christ.
The real question is - do you see Jesus throughout your day? Do you think of Him often? Do you see others through His eyes?
Do you seek the Lord and His righteousness first and foremost? Do you set your mind on things above before you're off and running each day? Do you ask God to reveal Himself to you throughout your day, to guide you and make you a blessing to those around you? "Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me, and know my anxieties; and see if there is any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting." Psalm 139:23-24. Pray that prayer sincerely, and see if God doesn't reveal Himself to you throughout your day.
Our personal world-view affects how we see, experience and respond to the world around us.
When you encounter a rude or angry boss or co-worker, do you simply see a "rude or angry" person, or do you see a person who obviously has some struggles in life? Do you only see their behavior or do you see through the eyes of Jesus, a person hurting and in need of the love and grace of God? We never know what the people around us are gowing through in life. If you saw them that way, might it change how you respond to them? You might be the only Jesus they ever see.
When you turn on the TV and see the pervasive wickedness in our world today, do you simply see a bunch of crazy people, or do you see the evil behind the craziness? Do you see the influence of the "prince of this world" himself and realize he is behind all of the evil in our world? If you saw the craziness that way, would it change how you see and/or respond to the craziness? Would it change what you post on fb or Twitter? Would it change how you talk about what's going on in the world?
As Christians, we know things are going to get worse before they get better. We know who is behind the evil in this world. We should not be surprised by it all. So why do we respond to the world in-kind? Why are we so quick to repay evil for evil, through our words and our actions? We are called to repay evil with good. As Christians, we are called to be different, to look different, to let our lights shine in this dark and depraved world.
When a fellow Christian acts in a way that isn't Christ-like, do you see below the surface and consider that s/he might be going through something, or that s/he might struggle with insecurities that causes her/him to be jealous or competitive? Christians aren't "perfect", not a one of us. We are forgiven by God and we should extend the same grace toward our brothers and sisters in Christ that we receive from God on a daily basis. Easy? No, because we hold them to a higher standard - they should know better. But Christians are still human, and not every Christian is at the same level of maturity in their walk with the Lord. We need to realize that and walk humbly before God and man, extending the same grace toward them that God continually extends to us. Pray for them. Ask God to help them with whatever is going on in their life and/or to heal the wounds that cause their insecurities and help them to see their need of healing.
As followers of Christ, God's Word tells us to seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness. We are to set our minds on things above. Each morning we should ask God to help us see the world around us through the eyes of Jesus, so that, we will have a Christian world-view and be able to discern what's really going on around us, and respond the way God would have us to respond.
In the picture above, it looks as though I'm standing at the foot of a cross. I can think of no better place to start each and every day than at the foot of The Cross of Jesus Christ - thanking Him for His great sacrifice and then laying my every sin, every concern, every plan or fear at the foot of The Cross; asking Him to let His precious blood wash over them and over me - cleansing and equipping me for that day so that I might honor my Father in Heaven and glorify His Son Jesus!
PRAYER:
Father God, I ask you to do that today for each of us. I ask you to fill us with your Holy Spirit and to give us the eyes of Jesus so that we might see and respond to the world around us from a Christian world-view; in humility with love, grace and mercy. Father make us a blessing today to those around us. Help us to see below the surface of things and people and help us, through your Holy Spirit, to repay evil with good as your Word instructs us to do. In Jesus name I pray. Amen
If you do not know Jesus Christ - please visit this website and learn more about Him. www.peacewithgod.net
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