Tag Archives: Through the eyes of Jesus

Cultivating a relationship

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Sometimes we start off on a venture without knowing just what we’re getting into. It might be a friendship, a marriage, a new job, a ministry project, or our “happily ever after” life.  We had all sorts of expectations but then something happens and we discover it’s not all we expected.

 

And so it is with accepting the Holy Spirit. The agreement to surrender to his control didn’t come easy but we made the commitment knowing the end plan was worth the temporary sacrifice.  Then the struggles begin. We feel like we have one foot in this world and one foot in the next. Tozer puts it this way: “You are trying to take some of the world and get some of the world over yonder. You are not ready for this because you haven’t given up all so you might have the All. You want some (of the Holy Spirit) but you don’t want all.”

 

Don’t fret. This is actually a normal response. We have a bond with the things of this world and God needs to pry us loose so we can experience so much more. Trust me, I’m on the path with you. Truthfully, it’s a daily battle of who we let control our life and our destiny.

 

Commitment is the glue to every lasting relationship. It’s what keeps a marriage together when we aren’t so lovable. In marriage the “two who became one” form a new entity called “us.” Commitment is what keeps us cooperating with the Spirit too.

 

It’s easier to remain committed when we look through different eyes. The Holy Spirit awakens us to a new realm of spiritual reality. It’s not simply about doing good deeds, but about advancing God’s supernatural plan to redeem all who will come to him. The Spirit shows us how to let go of the things of the world. That next advancement, your retirement account, your treasured house and belongings, even your health and well being. . . everything takes on a different perspective when you ask God to see the world, and the people around you, through the eyes of  Jesus. 

 

We believe what we trust. Up until now we’ve trusted what we’ve been taught and conditioned to think. The media and entertainment industry have more influence on us than we’d like to admit.  But when we look to the scrIptures as our center of focus, the filter by which we see ourselves, others, and the schemes of the world, life changes. When we learn to listen to the wisdom of the Holy Spirit – who is God – we learn trust and cooperate with his plans. There are still struggles but the game has now changed – forever.

Tozer offers some pointers to help us grow this relationship:

1. Remember the Spirit is a living person, not some conjured ghost. Just as earthly friendships grow as we spend more time together and building trust so your relationship with the Spirit grows naturally also.

2. Focus on honoring the glorified Jesus in everything you do and say and think. I know it sounds impossible, but over time, your love for Jesus will compel you to draw closer.

3. Live like Jesus. The only one who was without sin and always righteous lives in you. His authority allows us to live like he did, putting off the desires and temptations of this world and putting on the attributes of Jesus. With the guidance of the Spirit you can live a life of love, peace, joy, faithfulness, goodness, and so much more. His authority becomes yours. Believe it.

4. Submit your thoughts to his authority. Our thoughts determines how we respond when it’s rainy, when disappointments and frustrations come our way, and life thows us the worst of circumstances. Choose which thoughts will prevail: the old ones of bitterness, anger, and resentment or the new ones formed by our growing relationship with the Spirit.

5. Get to know him by reading his Word. Grow your interest in knowing Jesus and let your interest in temporary things fade. And just don’t read it; meditate on it. Reflect on it through the day. Apply it to your daily activities.

6. Learn to recognize the presence of the Spirit. He is everywhere you go. Expect him to show up. He will show you how the most common experiences can reveal spiritual secrets. When you hear his voice, you will find that Jesus is all you have…and all you need.

 

 

 

Looking through God’s eyes -2-

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We’re always interested in what our readers have to say about the GLOW blogs. With her permission here’s one response to the Nov 29 “Looking Through New Eyes” post:

 

 

“This morning, reading your blog, I am thinking about an experience I had at the beginning of the month.  I went to a professional training event.   For the first time in 6 yrs, I was in a room of 30 coworkers and I didn’t know a single person.

 

Everyone was very nice and the dynamic of the class made it easy to get to know each other.   I caught myself admiring the wisdom and insights of each person and was feeling fortunate to be among such a brilliant group.

 

By the end of the 2nd day, I was noticing their “quirks”….habits of interrupting, self-serving comments, that person who had a comment for everything…you know what this looks like.

 

I had the awareness the third day of being a little disappointed in this group who were so brilliant just two days earlier.   Almost instantly, I realized what was happening …the group wasn’t deteriorating…I was!  MY habits of judgment and evaluation,  MY filters, MY arrogance were in full play diminishing this rich experience.

 

In such a short time, I was closing myself to the possibility of relationships and learning,  because my eyes became clouded with my own self-righteousness.   I was shocked and disappointed with myself.

 

Asking for the eyes of Jesus…definitely is what was missing here…thanks for this thought!”

 

How about you? Asking God to see His world through the eyes of His Son changes your perspective on everything. Probably none of us do this perfectly, but that shouldn’t stop us from asking – and intentionally trying – to see others . . . through God’s eyes.

 

Open my eyes to see the wonderful truths in your instructions. Psalm 119:18

 

I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people. Ephesians 1:18

 

Looking through new eyes

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Something quite extraordinary happens when you’re able to see the world and others through different eyes.

 

I’m guessing you have paused for a moment when a young child makes an observation about something beautiful that you missed. It’s a moment of revelation, introducing us to something new or something important we may have forgotten. Like the little girl who looked at her mom, no make up, disheveled hair and old sweatshirt, saying, “Mommy, you’re beautiful.” Or the lad who says to his dad, “I want to be like you when I grow up.” Having your first child is like that too. You may be filled with so many questions and doubts. But when your eyes lock with theirs for that first time, when they first hold you in their trusting eyes, something special stirs in your heart, and you want it to stay that way forever.

 

In his book, Revolution in World Missions, K.P Yohannan tells of a young missionary in India who was badly beaten and left to die on the outskirts of town all because he shared the gospel of Jesus. Looking to the heavens, he asked God to give him the love of Jesus so he could return to the town again with renewed compassion for the people there. Immediately after his prayer, the young missionary said it was like God removed the eyes from his head and replaced them with the eyes of Jesus so he could see the people as Jesus did.

 

Did you know the same thing happens when we ask God to see through His eyes? For the first time we are able to see grumpy people as people who need God’s grace and truth. Even our enemies, when seen through God’s eyes, become worth our prayers. We look at our stuff and suddenly see things others need. We look at our paycheck and see it is indeed sufficient for our *needs* if we were to “Live simply so others may simply live.”

 

You know this if you sponsor a child from another country through an organization like Compassion International. As you pray for them and write to them and receive their letters and prayers, you find yourself praying also for their family and community, and their country. You start seeing people around the world through God’s eyes and it changes your vision forever. It’s like putting on a whole new pair of glasses that brings the world into focus in a way you couldn’t have imagined.

 

Are you tired of seeing the world through jaded glasses that make life look miserable and hopeless? Why not ask God to give you His eyes so you can see others and the world differently… the way they really appear from heaven. Prepare for an extraordinary new look on life!