Blindspot

One Saturday I was out running errands with my two boys. In and out of the car. In and out of the store. Rinse and repeat. You know what I'm talking about right? It's the Mommy Mantra.

We finally finished our last stop, and as I'm creeping my way through the busy grocery store parking lot, I pass in front of the grocery store entrance. While inching along, I didn't notice a man walking with his daughter coming out of the store to my left. They obviously had the right of way, so they walk forward to cross in front of me. However, I only saw them at the very last second when the man was close enough to touch my car. Fortunately, since I wasn't going very fast, I was able to stop in time and let them pass.

I was horrified I hadn't seen them. He was even more horrified that I hadn't yielded and gave me the look to make sure I knew it. Where had they come from?! Why didn't I see them?! Simple. They were in my blindspot. You know, that annoying part of the car that keeps the roof and the windows in place? That is exactly the spot that obstructed my view. Although I thought I was being careful, I failed to recognize what was happening right in front of me (or at least to the immediate left).

Do you have something in your life obstructing your view? Or maybe a blindspot keeping you from seeing something clearly? It could be a thought, an addiction, or maybe even a friend or family member. We all have things hindering us from truly fulfilling God's will. When people, things and situations are against God's command, it's easy for us to overlook them. It's our very own personal blindspot. And unlike the one in the car, we can't just look around it anymore, we have to get rid of it.

Heavenly Father,

Please help me to recognize that area in my life which is causing a blindspot. There's something or someone hindering me from seeing the truth about myself and the people around me. I'm sorry I have let myself be blinded by this obstacle. I want to be made aware of what is keeping me from my full potential with You. Please remove any thought, deceit, or object standing in my way. I have believed the enemy's lies that I don't need to see things Your way. I believed people when they told me it was just the way I was, and that I didn't need to change my perspective. Lord I ask you tear down walls I have built to separate myself from others. Break down the strongholds weighing me down. Expose those areas of my life keeping me from Your will, Lord. Give me a new lens that reveals a new perspective on my position as a wife, a mother, a daughter, a friend. I need You to reveal Your love to me, Lord. Let my focus be on You, and not my defeats or weaknesses. I claim victory in this area of my life, Lord. Your vision will be my vision.

In Jesus' name, amen.

"For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord." Romans 8:38, 39

On Our Hearts: Don't Worry, Be Joyful

I once heard it said that happiness is based on happenings, but joy comes from the Lord. Think about that for a second. We need people, places and things in order to be happy. But to be truly joyful all we need is Jesus. When we think about it that way, it is much easier it is to be joyful than to be happy. People will let us down, places will deceive us, and things will deteriorate. But the joy that God gives us never expires, never dissipates, and never fails. Oh sure, we will experience sadness now and then. But once you discover the inner joy that the Lord brings, your life will never be the same again.

Heavenly Father,

Please forgive us for having looked to the world to bring us joy. We may have found happiness, but it was only temporary. Fleeting pleasures that may satisify us in the interim, but they are no comparison to Your joy. This world is filled with so many disappointments and disillusion, and yet we continue to seek after the empty promises the devil would have us desire. Father, turn our hearts toward You so that we may receive Your magnificent joy. Only You can fulfill our deepest desire to be truly happy. We long to know what it feels like to have true inner joy and peace within our spirit. Help us to overcome any sadness that we may be feeling. Show us how to replace anger with forgiveness and grace. And let us pass this joy on to our children. May we be an overflowing vessel of joy to them. Lord, despite what may be going on right now in our lives, may we put a smile on our face and a sweet song in our voice to show the world the only way to find true happiness.

Amen

"You have filled my heart with greater joy than when their grain and new wine abound." Psalm 4:7

"May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit." Romans 15:13

Saturday Scripture: His Purpose

"And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God,

to those who are the called according to His purpose."
Romans 8:28

On Our Hearts: Hope

Heavenly Father,

There are days when we just feel so alone. We're tired, we're stressed, and we're running on empty. It's so easy just to fall into the trap of feeling sorry for ourselves. The devil tells us that we are the only ones going through what we're going through, that no one else understands us, and that we're never going to get out of the pit of troubles. We feel that we're not good enough, not smart enough, and that no one could possibly love us. But Your word tells us different.

Lord, we ask that you pick us up. Dust us off and wrap Your loving arms around us. Just as You were able to make the blind man see, You can open our eyes to the beauty that You have created us to be. Just as You made the lame walk, You can transport us from pity and despair to joy and hope. Lord, You are capable of what feels like the impossible. We can rest in You and have hope that we are not alone, we are bound for greatness, and that we are lovable. Lord, the next time self-doubt and pity creeps in we ask that You replace those feelings with confidence and hope.

Amen

"May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit." Romans 15:13

On Our Hearts: Money

Heavenly Father,

Your word has said that we should not be focused on those things that are material in nature. We should be confident that You will provide for all our needs, but Lord all too often we forget that. In today's society money drives our daily lives, it is has become an integral part of us. They way we live, give, fellowship, and raise our children all seems to be dependent upon how we use money. For so many of us, money has become our identity or the way in which we associate with others. Are we driving the right car? Are we wearing the right clothes? Are we giving our children the right "stuff" to fill their lives? It's time to turn it all over to You, Lord.


Lord only You can change our mindset. Shift our focus from earthly treasures to the heavenly ones. We pray that we ignore the devil when he starts to tell us that we don't have enough. Help us to be thankful for what we have. Give us financial wisdom so that we may be good stewards for You, Lord. We also pray that we can be an example to our children so that their financial decisions are based on faith not on the world's views. Let us invest in You so that we may receive dividends of righteousness.

Amen

"And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus." Phillipians 4:19

"Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for he who loves his fellow man has fulfilled the law." Romans 13:8