“The people who know their God will be strong and do great exploits” Daniel 11:32

When the Lord began to open my eyes to the importance of knowing God, I started to study His attributes and His names. I learned many great truths about God and was tremendously blessed. One of the things I learned was that according to the Westminster catechism, our main reason for being alive is to “glorify God and to enjoy Him forever.”

About that time in my spiritual journey, God sent a young man to live with us for several months. He talked a lot about enjoying God. Following his example, I began to make it a habit to enjoy my relationship with God. I invited Him into every part of my day, not just when I had my quiet time.

Gradually, I began to change. Instead of my relationship with God consisting of me just asking for things, I began to discuss everything with Him. I began thanking Him everywhere — while driving, walking, working, or shopping — anytime, anywhere. Talking to God all day long became a habit — a good habit.

 I now enjoy my relationship with God. How about you?

Father, what a privilege to know that You delight in our fellowship — that You are actually waiting for us to come to You. What deep, deep satisfaction You give. Thank You so much for the privilege of knowing You. Amen.

by Katherine Kehler
used by permission

Further Reading

How to Know God

Open My Eyes

Never too Old

I Want to Know Him

The Only Totally Fair Judge!

God is GOOD

The post Knowing God appeared first on Thoughts About God.

“So we do not look at what we can see right now, the troubles all around us, but we look forward to the joys in heaven which we have not yet seen. The troubles will soon be over, but the joys to come will last forever.” 2 Corinthians 4:18

I live in a city with over 200 days of sunshine each year. But along with warmth and beauty, such brightness also yields a negative effect. Extended exposure to the sun’s ultraviolet rays produces cataracts as well as more serious degenerative diseases. To counteract these possibilities, doctors advise the wearing of sunglasses.

But sunglasses have both positive and negative effects. Recently as I was driving I commented to my husband, “It looks as though the predicted rain will be heavier than expected. Look at those dark clouds.” Then I removed my sunglasses for a moment and was surprised to see that while clouds definitely were scudding across the sky, they weren’t as dark and threatening as I first thought.

It’s possible to wear spiritual sunglasses that distort our view of people and the world just as my glasses produced a less than accurate picture of the sky. God says, “Love your enemies,” but I see their violence and assume that the Father’s love couldn’t possibly extend to them and therefore, I have no responsibility to emulate that love. Jesus proves his power over wind and storm but I cower in the face of natural disasters and the vicissitudes of life. He proclaims victory over sin and death but I neglect or refuse to appropriate all that the Holy Spirit generously offers.

Physicians who specialize in eye care routinely recommend cataract surgery, an operation to remove a cloudy lens, replacing it with an artificial lens to restore clear vision. In a similar but far more restorative procedure, God waits for our consent for his operative work to help us see him, his creation and even ourselves with more perfect vision. His command to “fix our eyes on Jesus” can become a daily reality when we remove the sunglasses of our own distorted view and see God and his world with vision unfiltered by our own pessimism and faithlessness.

The psalmist prayed, “Open my eyes…” and the hymn writer penned, “Open my eyes, illumine me…” How different will be my viewpoint of the people and world around me when my prayer is the same.

By Marilyn Ehle
Used by Permission

The post Spiritual Sunglasses appeared first on Thoughts About God.

“May He enlighten the eyes of your mind so that you can see what hope His call holds for you.” Ephesians 1:18 (NIV)

What [does] it mean to be just like Jesus? The world has never known a heart so pure, a character so flawless. His spiritual hearing was so keen he never missed a heavenly whisper. His mercy so abundant he never missed a chance to forgive. No lie left his lips, no distraction marred his vision. He touched when others recoiled. He endured when others quit. Jesus is the ultimate model for every person …. God urges you to fix your eyes upon Jesus. Heaven invites you to set the lens of your heart on the heart of the Savior and make him the object of your life.

By Max Lucado

From: Just Like Jesus
To learn more about Max Lucado visit his website at:
https://maxlucado.com/about/

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