Looking and seeing. Listening and hearing. They sound the same, but their meanings differ.

What would happen if we were to pray like Elisha?

“Lord, please open his eyes and let him see.” (2 Kings 6:17)

Our days right now are so different, weird. In the midst of this stay-at-home time, we run the risk of not seeing, and not hearing, what the Lord is doing in our midst.

If we are to become people who see and listen, Priscilla Shirer shares an amazing thought:

“You would become a choice instrument in the hand of God, prepared for His purposes, propelled by His passion, moved to displays of grace and mercy toward the hurting victims of a lost and dying world.” (Awaken, page 24)

Let’s not miss the opportunities God will put before us today, and in the days ahead.

~*~*~

Unforgiveness.

It’s a hard topic for so many reasons but one we need to think on.

The reading from “Awaken” defines unforgiveness as a circle drawn around ourselves:

” … it defines us, restrains us, controls us, until over time it becomes our legacy, our pattern of living, the first thing others notice about us.”

But then it does more:

“Unforgiveness forces us to stay rutted, one-dimensional, thinly sliced, unable to experience the joys and freedoms that exist beyond the periphery of our closely guarded pain.”

It essence, unforgiveness will cause us to self-isolate, quarantine ourselves behind the thick walls we erect to protect ourselves.

And it is a hard way to live because it will harden our hearts.

God wants our hearts to be alive, beating, feeling what He feels, and loving those He loves.

“Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.” (Matthew 6:12)

Let that one sit on you for a bit. We all want to think of ourselves as loving and forgiving. But I bet if we sit a bit, we may find we have harbored an ill word that has been said to us. We recall a hurt, an unkind gesture, or the rejection.

While we often feel protective of our hearts, what valuable things has it cost us?

“If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; old things passed away; behold, new things have come.” (2 Corinthians 5:17)

~*~*~

“The gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life, and there are few who find it.” (Matthew 7:14)

The topic is being different, or more specifically, having “a different spirit.” Are we willing to be different than those around us, to stand apart?

We are going to need courage to walk this way. Christ walked the road to Calvary alone. He remained faithful to His Father and faithful to His calling.

Are you feeling compelled right now to be different?

As we open our eyes and see the opportunities,
God will make us new creations
who are compelled to live differently.

Photo 1: by Ani Kolleshi on Unsplash
Photo 2: by Francesco Gallarotti on Unsplash
Photo 3: Image by Richard Woollett from Pixabay

Today I am joining … Tell His Story and Purposeful Faith and InstaEncouragements .