Turning the Perspective

A couple of days ago I was driving along and I hear a preacher talking on the radio.  I can't even tell you  his name or the program, as I only listened for a few minutes...but he said something that at first irritated me, then caused one of those rare, "still, small voice" moments that kind of blew me away. 

The gentleman was talking about how faith is built by seeing God's faithfulness in the small things, and learning to trust Him as we see Him working in our lives.  I immediately thought to myself, "well I have a hundred small prayers that haven't been answered, faith is really hard for me when I feel like I'm never seeing answers."   And then  came "the voice."   "Look at other things," it said.

So often I (and I'm sure I'm not alone here) look at all the things we don't get, all the answers we don't receive instead of looking at all the ones we do. 

I have a problem with spilling stuff...I spill about twenty times a day (well, maybe not that much LOL).  And I get frustrated with the Lord, saying, "can't You just make me stop making messes!?!"  But I have to say, if I really look at it, then I manage to not spill things much more often than I  actually do spill stuff.  So the issue lies not with the spilling, but with the seeing. 

I think back to September 11th.  A horrible, tragic day for so many people, not just  here in the US, but around the world.  So many people were asking "where was God?"  But then the stories started coming out, about incredible rescues, people helping one another, coming together, and amazing "coincidences" that left people safe instead of at work that day.  As horrendous as that day was, if you looked you could find so much goodness as well. 

God wants us to look at things from the positive perspective.  Look at what He is doing, where He is working.  And give thanks!!

I love that four small words could change the way I see the world, my life and my Lord.  I am not a naturally positive person, I battle negativity daily.  But I believe this was God's way of taking me one step closer to victory in that battle.  "Look at other things."

Lord, I love that You speak to Your people.  I love that You never give up and continually push us forward.  You are doing so much and I pray that each of us would be more aware of Your work and Presence in our lives and the love that is forever ours.  Change us to see as You see.  In Jesus' merciful Name.  Amen

"Look at other things."

By the way, I've just about made it though my whole cup of  morning coffee without spilling it!  LOL