Many have heard of the analogy comparing the optimistic person to one who sees a glass as half full and those with pessimistic tendencies seeing the same glass as half empty. It's a good analogy.
The other day I used it in a bit of a different light. I have found it quite easy to see negative in those I am closest to and overlook the many positive attributes.
As I was faced with becoming frustrated by having my focus pinpointed onto a rather irritating quality of an individual, the analogy of 1/2 empty 1/2 full suddenly came to me.
I can look at an individual in this same light. I can focus on negative or the positive within the same person. It's my choice.
Immediatley my frustration was diminished as I started to think of those things that were true and good and pure and noble and of good report about this individual, and let the negative trait slide down in magnitude.
I'm pretty sure God must use this technique a lot with me!
Prov 19:11
A man's wisdom gives him patience;
it is to his glory to overlook an offense.
NIV
Tuesday 18 February 2014
Tuesday 11 February 2014
The Fire
Who would pray for a house fire so they could find that piece of gold that would remain intact?
And who would pray for a forest fire to find a piece of silver.
God describes Himself as the "Consuming Fire," (Hebrews 12:29), and in many churches we do sing and pray for "His fire to fall." In other words we pray to get spiritually burned up and see what's left.
Perhaps I haven't asked for God's fire to truly consume me, but I have, with a very sincere heart, asked to be purified "body, mind, heart and soul" which in essence is the exact same thing.
Within seconds of that prayer many years ago, the first command I received was "Don't take a sip of that coffee" - from my morning routine cup of coffee with Bible reading.
Little did I realize that was a very small test to see if I was serious about my prayer. A very tiny aspect of "purifying my body." I was so pleased with myself for putting the mug down! How naive I was!
So many things have happened since then. Situations that God has used to test and hone character in me such as Love, Peace, Patience, Faithfulness, and Self-Contorl. Or situations that have emphasized my self-centredness, impatience and grumbling.
There are many times over the last few years in which I had forgotten my prayer of long ago, but very gently (God is a consuming fire but also gentle, kind, compassionate, and full of grace and mercy) He reminds me that purifying my body was only one aspect of my prayer. I also prayed my mind and heart and soul would be purified too!
Remarkably, once that prayer to be purified is even remotely answered and a trial or tribulation or testing comes, the most common response is to pray and ask for it to be removed.
I've done my fair share of it.
All in all though, trusting that God truly is sovereign and nothing comes to us without purpose is one of the greatest, most freeing, peace-giving lessons of all.
James 1:2-5
Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.
NIV
And who would pray for a forest fire to find a piece of silver.
God describes Himself as the "Consuming Fire," (Hebrews 12:29), and in many churches we do sing and pray for "His fire to fall." In other words we pray to get spiritually burned up and see what's left.
Perhaps I haven't asked for God's fire to truly consume me, but I have, with a very sincere heart, asked to be purified "body, mind, heart and soul" which in essence is the exact same thing.
Within seconds of that prayer many years ago, the first command I received was "Don't take a sip of that coffee" - from my morning routine cup of coffee with Bible reading.
Little did I realize that was a very small test to see if I was serious about my prayer. A very tiny aspect of "purifying my body." I was so pleased with myself for putting the mug down! How naive I was!
So many things have happened since then. Situations that God has used to test and hone character in me such as Love, Peace, Patience, Faithfulness, and Self-Contorl. Or situations that have emphasized my self-centredness, impatience and grumbling.
There are many times over the last few years in which I had forgotten my prayer of long ago, but very gently (God is a consuming fire but also gentle, kind, compassionate, and full of grace and mercy) He reminds me that purifying my body was only one aspect of my prayer. I also prayed my mind and heart and soul would be purified too!
Remarkably, once that prayer to be purified is even remotely answered and a trial or tribulation or testing comes, the most common response is to pray and ask for it to be removed.
I've done my fair share of it.
All in all though, trusting that God truly is sovereign and nothing comes to us without purpose is one of the greatest, most freeing, peace-giving lessons of all.
James 1:2-5
Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.
NIV
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