Seeing And Living Life In Its Spiritual Context

 "Therefore I [Paul] also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, do not cease to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers: that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, the eyes of your hearts [understanding] being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, far above all principality and power and might and dominion" - Ephesians 1:15-21

One of my many challenges in my new life in Christ is living my life out with a spiritual perspective - with eyes of spiritual understanding that Paul wrote about. It is so easy for me to read a news article or see natural events - the course of human history, if you will, and react with my old nature and not my new one.

That reaction might manifest itself as worry, fear, hopelessness, maybe even anger. Most likely those emotions are evoked out of a sense that what I am seeing or experiencing is beyond my control. Like a dream where you are trying to escape some danger but try as you might, you cannot. Helpless - hopeless. My reaction is a result of my natural perspective. I have forgotten "what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power which He worked in Christ". Or perhaps I am having a faith problem.

"So He [Jesus] asked his [the boy's] father, How long has this been happening to him? And he said, From childhood. And often he has thrown him both into the fire and into the water to destroy him. But if You can do anything, have compassion on us and help us. Jesus said to him, If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes. Immediately the father of the child cried out and said with tears, Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!" - Mark 9:21-24

The man was focused on the impossibility of the situation. He had done everything he could for his son and was feeling helpless and hopeless. He was lacking in faith and knew it. That happens to me now and again and again and .... It is so easy to see the "giants in the land" and tremble. Perhaps like the people of Israel to wander in the desert rather that trust in our God who is great. 

Faith is something that must be exercised and nurtured. Living in a morally decadent world as we do requires faith and spiritual understanding to not lose heart. To stand against and not embrace feelings of helplessness and hopelessness because of what is happening around us. 

And so, like that father, we must cry out, "Lord, we believe - but help us with our unbelief!"

Be the light!

Think about it – Pray about it – Believe it – Walk in it. Let your light shine and give God the glory.

By Faith Alone By His Grace Alone And For His Glory Alone