As most of you know I LOVE to take pictures...and as most of you could guess my husband(although he very lovingly supports my passion) isn't as big of a fan of taking pictures or being in them. He especially isn't fond of using my DSLR digital camera. There's something about the manual focus that always gets the best of him. It's not that he can't focus it, he just always ends up focusing on the wrong thing. For example, if he's taking a picture of me and the kids, you might get a very crisp image of the trees behind us but me and the kids? Not so much....we're usually blurry and vague.
Tonight I was thinking about how often we focus all of our energy just like my husband focuses that camera....we focus...but on the wrong thing. So often we have our eyes fixed on what needs to be fixed, or on what's broken, and suddenly we no longer have a clear image of life. You see, we are all broken and we all need to be fixed. None of us are perfect. There are areas in all of our lives that we desperately need God to heal and restore. Everyday I am very clearly aware, as all of us are, of my own shortcomings and character flaws. We live in a culture of perfection where everything is airbrushed, trimmed down, and painted over. If it doesn't look good you can photoshop it. If it's not big enough you can enhance it. We've become so good at covering our flaws that we've lost our ability to be vulnerable. There is no room for imperfection, no room for flaws. Just like Adam and Eve, when we realize something that isn't right in our lives we run for cover and grab the fig leaves. We become so focused on our wrongs that we run from God. Most of us experience this in some way every day because we don't really understand the UNCONDITIONAL love of the Father. We see our sin and where we fall short and we run. But let me tell you something....Jesus is the ONLY WAY you are accepted by the father. You and I will NEVER be perfect enough in our own ability. John 14:6 Jesus said to him, I am the Way and the Truth and the Life; no one comes to the Father except by (through) Me. If we focus on ourselves we will always be disappointed. But if we can get our focus on Jesus, on the cross, and realize that it was never about what we could do, we will begin to see a clear image. Remember if there wasn't darkness, why would we need the light? If there wasn't sickness, why would we need a healer? If we were perfect, why would we need a savior? It's in our vulnerabilities that God meets us. When we realize that we can't do it without Him, He shows up. 2 Corinthians 12:9 But He said to me, My grace (My favor and loving-kindness and mercy) is enough for you [sufficient against any danger and enables you to bear the trouble manfully]; for My strength and power are made perfect (fulfilled and completed) and show themselves most effective in [your]weakness. Therefore, I will all the more gladly glory in my weaknesses and infirmities, that the strength and power of Christ (the Messiah) may rest (yes, may pitch a tent over and dwell) upon me!
When we begin to focus on God in our lives, hope is birthed. Focusing on where God isn't will always bring depression and deviation. The enemy will ALWAYS try to use our weaknesses, what others have said about us, and our own insecurities against us. But begin to focus on God in your life. Where is he? He's only a whisper away. I always tell my husband "It's so easy" when he uses my camera. "Just turn the little band until the image becomes clear." That's just what we need to do in life....just turn the focus of our heart until we see a clear image. An image of hope and an image of destiny. You and I were created for great things. God truly does not make mistakes. And I will promise you, he's bigger than any challenge that you might be facing. Bigger than any sickness, bigger than any lack, bigger than any sin. Just when Moses saw Pharoh's army closing in and he wondered how he would ever get across the river, the water parted!!! The darkness might seem to be closing in on you but GOD is right there with you and His word says that He will NEVER leave or forsake you!! And I promise that as you focus on Him, get your eyes off of your own shortcomings, He's going to show up in a big way in your life!!
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