Thursday, April 26, 2012

I want to have 12/12 vision

I used to work in Eye care. Most people think that if you have "perfect vision" that it is "20/20". Actually, you can have vision that is better than that, but that is not the point of this post. Today I read Romans 12:12.  It says: "Rejoicing in hope, persevering in tribulation, devoted to prayer." In reflecting on what this verse means, I decided that I want "12/12" vision! Okay, I don't think that is very good when it comes to vision for your eyes. I want this kind of vision for my spiritual eyes.

How can we have 12/12 vision?

 We can have this because Christ is raised from the dead. This is where we find hope. His death looked bleak, but His resurrection brought hope for a new tomorrow for all of us, if we are believers. "Hope", that is a beautiful word. Burns said, " Hope is the cordial in every human heart." We get up and go every morning because of hope. It gives us something to live for. I can live my life rejoicing in a hope like this!

The second thing mentioned in the verse is "Persevering in tribulation". I am told in Scripture to expect tribulation. It will come. But I am to persevere through it. With the Lord's help, I can go on, through the tribulation. Isaiah 43:2 says, "When you pass through the waters, I will be with you." Notice it doesn't say, "If" you pass through the waters, but "When". But the second part of the verse is how we can persevere through the tribulation. It says He will be with us. The Holy Spirit will be with us, guiding us through the trials and tribulations.

The third thing is, "Devoted to prayer". If you are devoted to something you are dedicated to it. It becomes something so important to you that you become single-minded in it. If I am devoted to prayer, it becomes such a part of my life that I do this like breathing. I Thessalonians 5:17 says, "Pray without ceasing." We can only pray like this if we are devoted to it.

Lord, Help me to have 12/12 vision. To be ever "rejoicing, persevering, and devoted" to the things that are important to you. I want to look at life through spiritual eyes like this. For it is then that I will really begin to see things clearly... as You would have me see.


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Wednesday, April 4, 2012

What about your heart?


Things we guard:
Our children, from dangerous situations.
Our home, by using locks and security systems.
Our computers, by implementing a password.
Our property, by using a guard dog.
Our skin, by using sunblock.
Our finances, by saving money.
Our car, by using a car alarm.
What about your heart?
Did you forget to guard one of the most important things?
The Bible says in Proverbs 4: 23, "Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it." (NIV)
This word guard means to protect, keep, watch, inspect, like the guarding of a fortress.
We are guarding everything else, why aren't we guarding our hearts? If you are not careful with your heart, it will lead to "heart"ache. The repercussions can be terrible. You have the potential to not only ruin your life, but the lives of your family and the people you say you love.
Don't start the "innocent" flirting, there is no such thing! The confiding in someone other than your spouse. That is giving a piece of your heart away that should be for them alone. Only let your spouse be your confidant... not anyone of the opposite sex if you are married.
Most affairs start out innocently. You think it would be just fine to friend your ex girlfriend or boyfriend on facebook. In my opinion it's not fine... it's dangerous and playing with fire. If you are married you need to be careful of who you allow to be your friend in life AND on facebook! Too many marriages have failed because of facebook. I know of several.
You might think, wow, you sure are strict! Yes indeed I am. I'm trying to guard my heart.
We guard everything else... why not our hearts?
After all... if you don't guard it... you might not have anything much left TO guard. The rest may be left shattered in a million pieces...
Something to think about...