Wednesday, April 16, 2008

Words of Encouragement


Picture drawn by Joselyn Williams in dedication to her grandfather, James Shurman Williams.



"For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways," declares the LORD. "As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. – Isaiah 55:8-9

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. – Philippians 4:8

What are your thoughts? Shortsightedness Thinking. What is shortsightedness? It is when you can’t see the whole picture, but only what you don’t have or only one part of the whole story. Shortsightedness is also the kind of thinking that the enemy uses to make us feel defeated. Whole thinking is also known as victorious thinking. Whole thinking helps us to realize that our thoughts are not God’s thoughts and our ways are not his ways, therefore we understand we cannot see everything in our own vision.

We become shortsighted when we think what we see is all there is. The scripture says let the wicked man forsake his ways and the evil man his thoughts. I also take a little liberty here to say let anyone that is not thinking God’s way, forsake those thoughts because they are leading to sin or disobedience, or lack of faith and trust in God. Whenever we refuse to think that God’s ways are higher than ours, we then are shortsighted and believe we have all the answers in our own selves.

Instead, when we have righteous thinking we acknowledge that God’s ways and thoughts are higher than ours. We then understand that we don’t see everything and to rely on ourselves we will be shortsighted. We understand that to release ourselves into God’s hands he will help us to see the whole picture. The whole picture is when we can have a glimpse of how God sees our situations and circumstances.

I pray for us today, Lord help us. Help us with our lack of forethought; help us with our lack of preparation and thoughtfulness. The preparation we need to do is take time thinking righteous thoughts so that we can think of those things that are pure and right. Help us to think on those things that are praiseworthy so that we can see the clear picture and thus remove the power that the enemy has to discourage us because we are shortsighted in what we see.

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