What He Sees
Paul said, “I die daily” (1 Cor. 15:31).
As we all know, he did not suffer physical death each day but, rather, died out to his flesh each die. In essence, he repented each day and denied his fleshly lusts so that he could fulfill the will of God in his life.
Indeed, we are to repent daily but each days needs to be about more than repentance. We need to grow as well, to gear up for the day, the week, the month, the live ahead!
If you are like most Americans, you have several mirrors in your home. For today’s devotional, it would be beneficial for you to find a mirror—even a small one—and keep it handy.
What better way to see ourselves for who we truly are?
Take your mirror and have a good look at yourself.… now what is the first thing that comes to mind?
I asked this of our church ladies during our foot washing and communion service this past year; the responses, I’m sure, are representative of those I would hear if you could speak to me through the screen.
Some said, “I see more wrinkles than last year.” Another said, “My nose is too big.” Still another quipped, “Bad hair day!” A young preteen said, “My grandma says those dark circles under my eyes say I have tummy trouble; is that even true?”
Consider for a moment: When do we usually consult a mirror? Most likely, we use one to get ready in the morning, when we’re putting on our night cream or taking out our contacts, or when we’re checking our outfit for the day.
For men, you might use it to shave or check out the paunch that wasn’t there last summer.
If you notice, we as humans—both women and men—often look into mirrors to find fault with ourselves, to find hairs that are out of place and need to be fixed, or to see where time has eroded our once youthful skin.
The Bible is likened to a looking glass. Why? Because it shows us what a child of god should be and with that knowledge, we can compare ourselves with the Word of God and tweak our spiritual ‘appearance.’
However, finding and fixing faults isn’t all a mirror allows us to do. It also allows us to see who we really are.
Look again at your own mirror! This time, instead of looking at the stray hair, the crow’s feet, or the nose that might not be quite straight, see deeper. What do you see?
When I tried this, the first things I saw—just like in the natural—were my flaws. I saw a woman who has a lot of fears over silly things. I check the oven at least three times every morning before heading to work and sometimes have to run back in to double check that I did indeed unplug that curling iron!
• I saw a woman who sometimes has a quick temper and I felt so ashamed.
• I saw a woman who shops too much because it helps her escape the pressures of her job.
• And I saw a woman who is hurting and sometimes finds it hard to forgive and move on.
If you stare long enough, I’m sure you’ll see similar things.
One thing that hurt so much was that I saw a woman who keeps fighting the same old battles over and over again and never can quite seem to overcome them for good. You know, sometimes, we think that when we get the Holy Ghost that we’ll never have another trial or another temptation.
But…it just simply isn’t true.
King David is a perfect example. Remember Goliath? He was David’s first major victory—after the killing of the lion and the bear, of course! Goliath was a Philistine. You would think that the Philistines, having had their champion giant killed by a mere Israelite boy, would have run for the hills! But, did you know that the Philistines didn’t just go away after that?
In fact, they kept challenging David! In 2 Samuel 21:15, it says that “moreover, the Philistines had yet war AGAIN with Israel; and David went down, and his servants with him, and fought against the Philistines: and David waxed faint!”
There is proof that you can lose your victory over a prior battle you once overcame!
** Did this mean that David was backslidden? No…
** Did this mean that David was no longer anointed of God? No…
** Did this mean that David was worthless and God couldn’t use him any longer? No…
You see, we give up on ourselves long before God ever does!
Scripture says that we go from victory to victory!
Think about it! You can’t have a victory without a battle. So, to go from victory to victory means we will face repeated battles in our lives…and it won’t always be a new foe. Some temptations will surface over and over again.
Why? Because Satan is a clever strategist. He may be doomed but he isn’t dumb!
He will find those two or three things that bother you and he will sometimes bombard you with them. When you overcome one, he switches to another.
The key? Don’t be ashamed because you battle; God said, “He knew what was in man” so God’s not surprised when we struggle. The key is not to give up on ourselves…or on Him!
Several ways to continue to be an overcomer include:
1. Prayer: It’s your lifeline; it’s that anchor to the safe harbor; and it’s your 1-800-HELP line! The Bible says that “the effectual, fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much” (James 5:16).
As we all know, he did not suffer physical death each day but, rather, died out to his flesh each die. In essence, he repented each day and denied his fleshly lusts so that he could fulfill the will of God in his life.
Indeed, we are to repent daily but each days needs to be about more than repentance. We need to grow as well, to gear up for the day, the week, the month, the live ahead!
If you are like most Americans, you have several mirrors in your home. For today’s devotional, it would be beneficial for you to find a mirror—even a small one—and keep it handy.
What better way to see ourselves for who we truly are?
Take your mirror and have a good look at yourself.… now what is the first thing that comes to mind?
I asked this of our church ladies during our foot washing and communion service this past year; the responses, I’m sure, are representative of those I would hear if you could speak to me through the screen.
Some said, “I see more wrinkles than last year.” Another said, “My nose is too big.” Still another quipped, “Bad hair day!” A young preteen said, “My grandma says those dark circles under my eyes say I have tummy trouble; is that even true?”
Consider for a moment: When do we usually consult a mirror? Most likely, we use one to get ready in the morning, when we’re putting on our night cream or taking out our contacts, or when we’re checking our outfit for the day.
For men, you might use it to shave or check out the paunch that wasn’t there last summer.
If you notice, we as humans—both women and men—often look into mirrors to find fault with ourselves, to find hairs that are out of place and need to be fixed, or to see where time has eroded our once youthful skin.
The Bible is likened to a looking glass. Why? Because it shows us what a child of god should be and with that knowledge, we can compare ourselves with the Word of God and tweak our spiritual ‘appearance.’
However, finding and fixing faults isn’t all a mirror allows us to do. It also allows us to see who we really are.
Look again at your own mirror! This time, instead of looking at the stray hair, the crow’s feet, or the nose that might not be quite straight, see deeper. What do you see?
When I tried this, the first things I saw—just like in the natural—were my flaws. I saw a woman who has a lot of fears over silly things. I check the oven at least three times every morning before heading to work and sometimes have to run back in to double check that I did indeed unplug that curling iron!
• I saw a woman who sometimes has a quick temper and I felt so ashamed.
• I saw a woman who shops too much because it helps her escape the pressures of her job.
• And I saw a woman who is hurting and sometimes finds it hard to forgive and move on.
If you stare long enough, I’m sure you’ll see similar things.
One thing that hurt so much was that I saw a woman who keeps fighting the same old battles over and over again and never can quite seem to overcome them for good. You know, sometimes, we think that when we get the Holy Ghost that we’ll never have another trial or another temptation.
But…it just simply isn’t true.
King David is a perfect example. Remember Goliath? He was David’s first major victory—after the killing of the lion and the bear, of course! Goliath was a Philistine. You would think that the Philistines, having had their champion giant killed by a mere Israelite boy, would have run for the hills! But, did you know that the Philistines didn’t just go away after that?
In fact, they kept challenging David! In 2 Samuel 21:15, it says that “moreover, the Philistines had yet war AGAIN with Israel; and David went down, and his servants with him, and fought against the Philistines: and David waxed faint!”
There is proof that you can lose your victory over a prior battle you once overcame!
** Did this mean that David was backslidden? No…
** Did this mean that David was no longer anointed of God? No…
** Did this mean that David was worthless and God couldn’t use him any longer? No…
You see, we give up on ourselves long before God ever does!
Scripture says that we go from victory to victory!
Think about it! You can’t have a victory without a battle. So, to go from victory to victory means we will face repeated battles in our lives…and it won’t always be a new foe. Some temptations will surface over and over again.
Why? Because Satan is a clever strategist. He may be doomed but he isn’t dumb!
He will find those two or three things that bother you and he will sometimes bombard you with them. When you overcome one, he switches to another.
The key? Don’t be ashamed because you battle; God said, “He knew what was in man” so God’s not surprised when we struggle. The key is not to give up on ourselves…or on Him!
Several ways to continue to be an overcomer include:
1. Prayer: It’s your lifeline; it’s that anchor to the safe harbor; and it’s your 1-800-HELP line! The Bible says that “the effectual, fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much” (James 5:16).
Sometimes our most effective prayers take place in our lowest valleys because that’s when we’re ready to get serious with God!
2. To be an overcomer, we need to go the extra mile! I’ll never forget a friend of mine in college. Every time we went into a restaurant, it took us forever to get out because she insisted on cleaning the table when we left. It didn’t matter where we were—the bathroom, the gas station, the parking lot. Wherever we were, she had decided to leave it better than she found it.
In scripture, we find that Elisha followed Elijah even though Elijah told him he could rest instead. Elisha, for his determination to go the extra mile with the man of God, received a double portion of Elijah’s anointing! That’s a great inspiration for doing more than is required!
3. Be a channel for God’s power to flow through; don’t be the clogged drain! Instead of focusing on your own inadequacies, focus on how God can use you to reach others. Paul said, ”I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some” (1 Cor. 9:22).
Galatians 6:10 instructs us, “As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.” That means you should be actively seeking opportunity to bless others!
Do you make certain you greet every sister at church and let her know she is loved? Seek the opportunity!
Do you seek out a homeless man to buy him a hot meal instead of driving past each one pretending to be distracted? Seek the opportunity!
Do you, instead of squandering a bonus on things you don’t need, ever pay the electric bill for some brother or sister who is struggling financially? Seek the opportunity!
Do you? Instead of foregoing prayer meeting because you don’t know what to pray about, have you ever chosen to fast and pray for a brother or sister who is on the verge of giving up? Ever devoted your day to them? Seek the opportunity!
Stand in the gap! Make up the hedge! Encourage others in the Lord!
This is how you overcome that harsh image in the mirror. 1 Corinthians 13:12 says, “For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.”
If you really want to know who you are, look in the scriptures!
You are a Bride! Isaiah 61:10
You are a Child of God! 2 Corinthians 6:18
You are beautiful! Psalm 29:2
You are special! Deuteronomy 14:2
You are clean and pure! 1 Corinthians 6:11
And you are royalty! 1 Peter 2:9Look again in that mirror…
You should see yourself…
• Lovely as a bride
• Beloved as a favorite son or daughter of the King
• Special and called out
• Pure
• Royal
• Chosen!
Now think about those in your church. That’s also how we must view the brothers and sisters of the faith!
Today, pray that your perspective be lifted that you no longer see the flaws but see the potential…and the reality of what God sees in you!
He said, “Ye have not chosen me but I have chosen you” (John 15:16).
It’s not what we see as valuable but it’s what He sees…and God doesn’t make mistakes!
