Lenses
Start with Worship: This is a 30 minute video. Just worship for a few minutes to begin before starting the devotional.
The eye is the lamp of the body; so then if your eye is clear, your whole body will be full of light. Matthew 6:22
In yesterdays devotional we learned about the crucial need for rest. We were asked this question, Why is it hard to slow down and be still?
I would remind you that rest and inactivity are not the same. Rest can contain inactivity but it’s not about the lack of something but the presence of someone. The Presence of Jesus.
When I asked the Holy Spirit why I struggle to be still, His response was “you’re afraid of what you will see, you’re afraid of the you that you will see”. He then told me that, he and I see me very differently.
My lenses were out of focus. As long as I kept seeing through those lenses I would see with distorted vision and I would in turn see a distorted vision for my life.
Truthfully I shrunk back, embarrassed. I’ve been here before. I asked, "How am I wearing the wrong lenses?"
His response was that they were not the wrong lenses, they were simply dirty and worn.
Let’s focus today on the first one.
Dirty lenses: The film created from the road of life was causing me to see everything as dull. Clean your lenses, was His reply.
So Lord what do I do?
Learn to clean your lens daily.
Do not let the film of everyday life to build. Forgive quickly and repent quickly. You may be tired of those two words but in the kingdom they are essential. Forgiveness and repentance.
Ask this question. Lord is there a film between me and you? Is there unforgiveness in my way? Do I need to repent of anything today?
When we, moment by moment listen to the Holy Spirit's gentle nudges we will know when to repent. Repentance is not as much about being sorry as is it about turning 180 degrees from sin.
As the film is removed we see how He sees. Everything seems brighter. Once we are seeing correctly, we must maintain our new vision.
Key thought: Needing to clean our lenses, does not always imply failure, it means we are living in a difficult world that sometimes leaves a film. If that film stays it can cause you to see out of focus and live without the focus we need.
Lastly, can I encourage you to start with your own repentance. Repentance often illuminates the shallowness of our offences and sometimes you end up asking for forgiveness rather than requiring it from someone.
Daily declaration.
- As I daily clean the lenses of my life I will see clearer, hope deeper, and be filled with the joy of God's blessings in my life.
- Daily cleaning of my lenses is not a sign of my failure but hints of my maturity in Christ.
Prophetic Postcards: Category=Send this to a family memebr
1. Pick one of the Postcards. 2. Ask Holy Spirit who this is for? 3. Look at the card and ask Holy Spirit for a prophetic word (from God's heart) or a word of encouragement for them (from your heart). 4. Right click on the image, download to your pictures. 5. Text or email the picture to them with your word.
Prayer Video (1 min): Take a minute and play the video below. Find a quiet place and listen to God's words of Love he wants to speak over you. Don't let doubt or forgiven sin separate you from his words.
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Ascent Church