“The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are healthy, your whole body will be full of light. But if your eyes are unhealthy, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness!”
–– Matthew 6:22-23
Optical Illusion
There is an optical illusion where you may see an old woman, but if you change your focus you will see a lovely young lady with her head turned to the side.
Our world may be viewed in a similar way. If you listen to social media and the news, you may see darkness, despair, and hopelessness. If you spend time reading your Bible, meditating on it, and praying, you will see the world in a very different manner.
Astronomers place filters on their telescopes to limit what they seek. The filter blocks out hundreds of distractions enabling them to focus on a single light source.
Using the filter of God’s personal word to us enables us to see Him in the middle of everything.
John Wesley built the church around daily disciplines that empower the “God filter” to function.
Wesley promoted:
- Meditation: Think about what God’s Word means and what you should do.
- Prayer: Speak and listen to God.
- Fasting: Discipline the body in order to enhance spiritual discernment.
- Study: Dig deeply into the Word.
- Service: Do the work of the church to benefit others.
- Worship: Set time for spiritual renewal.
- Simplicity: Step away from distractions.
Consider making changes that will enable you to view the world as Jesus saw it. He asked those living under a cruel Roman occupation to change their focus and to consider the lilies of the field and the birds of the air.
Don’t focus on conflicts and difficulties, focus on God’s possibilities, especially His promises!
Mark Lubbock serves as aa deployed staff member of the General Commission on UM Men. This post is republished with permission from the commission's website.