Magnifying glasses enhance and enlarge the image of whatever is viewed through its lens. When print is too small to read, a magnifying glass can bring it to a legible size. A tiny detail in a picture that would have gone unnoticed can jump out. A lost item that blends in with its surroundings can suddenly be found when the magnifying glass is pointed in the right direction.
Each of our minds has a magnifying glass. Where that magnifying glass is pointed is up to us. And where that magnifying glass is pointed will make all the difference in how we perceive both our God and the world around us. We can choose to magnify the trials of life or the faithfulness of our God.
The enemy will always attempt to have as place our focus and magnify the trials and problems that we encounter in life. Difficult situations will come into our lives. Often problems may have no solution in sight. If we focus on these problems things can become bleak. Everything that looks impossible has been magnified by our perceptions.
Despite beatings and other serious hardships, the apostle Paul wrote, “Therefore we do not become discouraged (utterly spiritless, exhausted, and wearied out through fear). Though our outer man is [progressively] decaying and wasting away, yet our inner self is being [progressively] renewed day after day. For our light, momentary affliction (this slight distress of the passing hour) is ever more and more abundantly preparing and producing and achieving for us an everlasting weight of glory [beyond all measure, excessively surpassing all comparisons and all calculations, a vast and transcendent glory and blessedness never to cease!], Since we consider and look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen; for the things that are visible are temporal (brief and fleeting), but the things that are invisible are deathless and everlasting.” (2 Corinthians 4:16-18 AMP)
In any situation the Word of God tells us to focus on the Lord
with prayer and thankfulness. “Be happy [in your faith] and rejoice and
be glad-hearted continually (always); Be unceasing in prayer [praying
perseveringly]; Thank [God] in everything [no matter what the circumstances may
be, be thankful and give thanks], for this is the will of God for you [who are]
in Christ Jesus [the Revealer and Mediator of that will].” (1 Thessalonians
5:16-18 AMP)
We are to remember God’s faithfulness. “Bless
(affectionately, gratefully praise) the Lord, O my soul; and all that is
[deepest] within me, bless His holy name! Bless (affectionately,
gratefully praise) the Lord, O my soul, and forget not [one of] all His
benefits— Who forgives [every one of] all your iniquities, Who heals [each
one of] all your diseases, Who redeems your life from the pit and corruption, Who beautifies,
dignifies, and crowns you with
loving-kindness and tender mercy; Who satisfies your mouth [your necessity and
desire at your personal age and situation] with good so that your youth,
renewed, is like the eagle's [strong, overcoming, soaring]! (Psalm 103:1-5 AMP)
This focus is not only in our thoughts but vocalized into praise. We remember
and praise.
We must magnify the love of God. “There is no fear in love [dread does not
exist], but full-grown (complete, perfect) love turns fear out of doors and expels every trace of terror! For
fear brings with it the thought of punishment, and [so] he who is afraid has not
reached the full maturity of love [is not yet grown into love's complete
perfection].” (1 John 4:18 AMP)
When our focus is on His love, fear leaves.So we can focus on our situations and problems. This will breed fear and doubt. Or we can actively magnify God though prayer, thankfulness and praise. This will bring joy and faith in the not yet seen good plan and purpose of God.
What do you choose to magnify? Like the psalmist I plead with you, “O magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt His name together. “(Psalm 34:3 AMP)
No comments:
Post a Comment