Daily Bread - LET US SEE THROUGH CRACKED LENSES

Series: Our Daily Bread
Author: Bill Crowder



READ: Psalms 141

I started wearing glasses when I was 10 years old. They are still a necessity because my 50-something eyes are losing their battle against time. When I was younger, I thought glasses were a nuisance - especially when playing sports. Once, the lenses of my glasses got cracked while O was paying softball. It took several weeks to get them replaced. In the meantime, I saw everything in a skewed and distorted way.

In life, pain often functions like cracked lenses. It creates within us a conflict between what we experience and what we believe. Pain can give us a badly distorted perspective on life - and on God! In those time, we need our God to provide us with new lenses to help us see clearly again. That clarity of sight usually begins when we turn our eyes upon the Lord. The Psalmist encouraged us to do this: "My eyes are upon You, O God the Lord; in You I take refuge; do not leave my soul destitute" (Psalms 141:8). Seeing God clearly can help us see life's experiences more clearly.

As we turn our eyes on the Lord in times of pain and struggle, we will experience His comfort and hope in our daily lives. He will help us to see everything clearly again.

Turn your eyes upon Jesus,
Look full in His wonderful face:
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim
In the light of His glory and grace.
- Lemmel

Focusing on Christ puts everything in perspective.

Daily Read: WHO OR WHAT IS YOUR GOLIATH?

Series: Our Daily Bread

Author : Poh Fang Chia

TAKE THE LIMITS OFF ME !!!! RELEASE ME!!!
 

The towering enemy strides into the valley of Elah. He stands 9 feet tall, and his coat of armor, made of many small bronze plates, glimmers in the sunlight. The shaft of his spear is wrapped with cords so it can spin through the air and be thrown with greater distance and accuracy. Goliath looks invincible.

But David knows better. While Goliath may look like a giant and act like a giant, in contrast to the living God he is small. David has a right view of God and therefore a right view of God and therefore a right view of the circumstances. He sees Goliath as one who is defying the armies of the living God (1 Samuel 17:26). He confidently appears before Goliath in his shepherd's clothes, armed with only his staff, five stones, and a sling. His confidence is not what he has but in who is with him (v.45).

What 'Goliath" are you facing right now? It may be an impossible situation at work, a financial difficulty, or a broken relationship. With God all things are small in comparison. Nothing is too big for Him. The words of the hymn-writer. Charles Wesley remind us: "Faith, mighty faith, the promise  sees, and looks to that alone" God is able to deliver you if that's His desire, and He may do so in ways you don't expect.

Not to the strong is the battle,
Not to the swift is the race;
Yet to the true and the faithful
Victory is promised through grace.
- Crosby

Don't tell God how big your giants are. Tell your giants how big your God is.