Casting Vision

I pray 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, and His incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength He exerted when He raised Christ from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power, and dominion. Ephesians 1:18-22

How do you see valleys in your life?

How do you view circumstances you wish were different?

Strained relationships you wish were closer?

Undelivered dreams or plans you thought were from God?

What if you reread Ephesians 1, applying it to your situation?

God has great plans for us.

Often we cannot see what they are, but Ephesians reminds us God has called us to a great hope.

To the riches of His inheritance to us.

And to dwell within His great power, which raised Jesus back to life.

What if you looked at the broken things in your life in light of God’s power?

Viewing them instead with eyes of hope, promise, and life?

Within our flesh, things can look pretty grim.

And sometimes they continue in that way, but God is always sovereign over all.

But – if you looked instead with heavenly eyes, circumstances and people would look different.

Human reasoning or God’s miraculous power?

Begin to live from the power God has for us.

See relationships healed with God’s strength.

Smile at the future knowing God is in complete control.

Look past your current circumstances, looking forward instead to what God has for you.

Walk with your head high as you contemplate God’s victory instead of casting your eyes downward in defeat.

Yes, God is over everything with complete control.

Yes, we don’t know what He plans with every little thing.

But you can rest assured He wants good things for us, His children.

Good things in our flesh may not always match up with the good He has for us.

But it doesn’t matter.

Because God is with us always.

He goes before us, behind us, and next to us, surrounding us with His peace, strength, and love.

Cast your vision on God’s hope, inheritance, and power.

As His voice becomes louder within, you’ll see life brighter and brighter, royally disappointing the devil along the way.

So instead of shrinking with fear, rejection, and lies, choose instead to shine with God’s hope and infinite power living inside of you.

Photos by Ran BerkovichDenys NevozhaiBud Helisson, & Joel Muniz on Unsplash

Beautiful Life

Remember not the former things, nor consider the things of old. Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert. Isaiah 43:18-19

mf747

God is waiting to walk you into your beautiful life.

 Already there?

 That’s awesome.

Truly a gift.

Some of us aren’t.

 We want to, but we can’t.

 Why?

Because we are holding onto remnants of the past.

 Ashes.

 Broken pieces we cannot seem to drop.

 These burdens from the past beg us to cling to our old ways of thinking, of acting.

 We cling because they are familiar.

 Painful, but familiar.

 Why is that comforting?

Because it’s the known vs the unknown.

Do you trust me?

God is asking that of us this day.

 Do you really trust me?

Because if you do, you’ll give Him those ashes.

 The deepest darkest places in your heart.

 You’ll grab every last drop of darkness and pour it out into God’s open hands.

 He wants your sadness.

 He wants your burdens.

 He wants your cares.

But do you trust Him?

Does He really have your back?

Has He planned the best for your future?

Yes.

Don’t believe me?

That’s ok.

 Look to your details- your blessings in your life.

 God is there, was there, and is here yet today.

 Oh, and He’s in your future.

 Whether it’s job loss, broken relationships, yearnings of your heart, recovery from surgery or anything else, God is waiting to take the worry from you.

 He can see far beyond your vision.

 Place it all into His hands.

 Lean back, and trust Him.

 And allow your precious smile to brighten your stunning face.

Welcome to your beautiful life.

peter-hershey-241201
victoriano-izquierdo-109924
peter-hershey-113962

Photos by Victoriano Izquierdo & Peter Hershey on Unsplash