Liv
Extracts of Truth & Encouragement from a Growth Journey with God
Answered Prayers…and Prayers in the Waiting
Several times last week, I visibly saw the LORD answer my specific prayers…those numerous “smaller” questions to answers about big decisions we’ve been praying over for a while. My heart’s full!!
“Come, hear, all you who fear God, and I recount what He did for my soul. I have called to Him [with] my mouth, and exaltation [is] under my tongue.”
Psalm 66:16-17 LSV
“If You have seen evil in my heart, You will not save me, LORD JEHOVAH.”
Psalm 66:18 ABPE
“But God has heard; He has attended to the voice of my prayer.”
Psalm 66:19 LSV
“Blessed be God, Who has not turned away my prayer, nor His mercy from me.”
Psalm 66:20 BST
WHAT DOES RECOUNTING MEAN?
“Recount” in Verse 16 means to chalk up tallies, like in school, of all that He’s done…keeping record and proclaiming all that God’s done for my soul…how He’s breathed life into me! I needed His breath of life! Do you ever have times when your air supply just feels cut off?
WHAT DO I DO WHEN I’M WAITING FOR ANSWERS?
There have been a number of heart cries over the last year or so for my kids (well, all their lives, but my cries have seemed elevated as of late). God’s recent answers to several prayers prove what He had me focusing on before last week ever started:
“Surely [His] goodness [what He will make good] and [kindness and] mercy will follow me all the days of my life,”
Psalm 23:6a BSB
“Surely” is certain; it’s truth. I can count on it. The Greek word for “mercy” in Psalm 66:20 refers to kindness AND mercy, which we see, also, together in Psalm 23:6a! I feel both, when I see His hand…His answers; but He’s not keeping them from me, when I don’t see them…or feel them. His kindness and mercy…How can I remember them, while I’m waiting for His answers? I’m trying to focus on Psalm 23’s promise that He’ll certainly, on any given day, make good come out of any challenge…some day…some time. Even if I never see it, that’s a truth I can cling to!
“Your kindness and your mercies pursue me all the days of my life, that I may dwell in the house of LORD JEHOVAH to the length of days.”
Psalm 23:6 ABPE
When I read this verse in this version, “pursue” stands out to me as well as ALL the days of my life. “Pursue,” in this verse, has a neat visual with it’s meaning; it’s like a dog, attending to the needs of someone. Most service dogs are trained to attend to their person, specifically for the needs and challenges they have. Our dog isn’t a trained service dog, but it’s interesting to watch him walk beside me, when I’m having a challenging day with my health. He doesn’t get ahead of me or in my way; he walks right beside me, periodically looking at me to make sure he’s matching my slow pace, assessing my feet and legs, and seeing what else I may need. There have been times when I’ve gotten wobbly, and he’s pressed his 75+ lb. body against my legs to help stabilize me. I’ve even, at times, put my hand on him for added strength and support. Even though he’s not trained as a service dog, some days, I just feel like God’s given him an innate perception to tend to me. I’m sure this girl feels that way, too. Check out this heart-warming video of her and her service dog!
If a service dog is with their blind person, who is starting to go off course, they lovingly pursue them, warning them or guiding them back to safety.
There may be times when God seems silent…maybe even distant. I find a lot of peace in knowing that He’s NOT distant; He’s still with me! He’s attending to me, my needs, and my prayers with good intent. If I start to go off course in my words, actions, or thoughts, He’s there to correct me and lovingly guide me back on the right course.
“Your kindness and your mercies pursue me all the days of my life, that I may dwell in the house of LORD JEHOVAH to the length of days.“
Psalm 23:6 ABPE
I never knew that “house,” in this verse, often refers to “family.” That brings a huge smile to my face. I’m the daughter of LORD JEHOVAH! We’re family! He lives with me, and He attends to me as my loving, good, kind, merciful Father, whether I always recognize His attentiveness as such or not. Psalm 23:6 doesn’t say His goodness, kindness, and mercy pursue me, only on days I’m obedient or trusting; it says they pursue me ALL the days of my life!
I’m trying to focus my prayers in the waiting on all of these beautiful truths…and by doing so, gain the stability and strength He provides when I’m a bit wobbly through this walk of life, accepting His correction and direction, knowing He has a good purpose.
Tally your praises today! How has He answered your prayers…or directed/corrected you in the waiting?
I AM with You
My daughter likes to get out of the house; that’s how she’s wired. If I go to the gas station, she’ll go with me. If I run to the bank, she’ll ask to come along. It doesn’t matter where or how long the trip is, she loves a change of scenery and will ask to go with me.
There’s someone else Who wants to go with us wherever we go: Jesus.
WHERE IS JESUS NOW?
I was listening to a sermon about Jesus calling four fishermen to be His disciples. As I read Luke 5:1-11, a question stirred inside me (the same question the pastor also asked later in the sermon): “Where’s Jesus?” I always pictured Him on the shore, but if you look at Verse 3, you’ll notice that Jesus was in Simon’s (Peter’s) boat when He gave Simon His first directive—return the boat back out to sea, a little bit from land (where He, then, taught the multitudes). Jesus was still in Simon’s boat in Verse 4, when He gave Simon His second directive–take the boat back out into the deep water and let their net down for a catch. Jesus was already in the boat that was going to be used in completing the task He gave Simon…and He stayed with Simon!
I’ve found such encouragement from this! The One Who commissioned me to start this blog…to write a Bible study…is with me! The One Who gave me kiddos is with me to answer my daily parenting questions and guide me in discipling them. He didn’t tell me to do these things, then send me out, waving to me from the shore. “Have a good time! Hope you figure it out!” No! He got in…all in…before He gave me His directives!
This may seem elementary, but this story played out makes such a deep impact on me! There’ve been times when blogging’s lonely, and I wonder why God chose me for this…or if what I’m writing is making a difference. It’s a game changer, when I think of Jesus being in the boat, when He asked Simon to do something he and the other fishermen had done all night (with no success)…this time, in conditions that weren’t usually synonymous with success. Yet, because of Who Jesus was/is and where He was, they obeyed. “Where He was?” Simon called Jesus “Master” in Luke 5:5. The Greek word for “Master,” there, means “commander” and comes from the word “ephistémi,” meaning “be present.” Not only did Simon place Jesus in authority over himself by calling Him this, but he recognized that this Authority was near!
WHY?
Jesus didn’t just tell Simon to let down his fishing net; He told him there was a purpose (to catch fish–Luke 5:4). Have you ever wondered, “Why would God ask me to do this?” I have, at times! This is good for me to sit with for a while–He doesn’t just give us purposeless rules or random directives to watch us chase our tails; He’s our God of purpose, and He has a reason. Even if we question why, will we obey and trust that He’ll bring something good out of it?
“For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.“
Ephesians 2:10 ESV
Simon, his brother (Andrew), and a few others in Simon’s boat experienced the miracle of their net being so full of fish that it was tearing, but only “when they had done” [what Jesus said to do] (Luke 5:6)! So many fish were caught that they had to signal to the Zebedee brothers, James and John (Simon’s fishing partners), to help! They all pulled in such a plethora of fish that both boats began to sink! I wonder if Jesus was sitting in Simon’s sinking boat with a light in His eye and a smile on His face.
Simon didn’t stress about the net breaking or the fact that the numerous fish were sinking his boat. Instead, he:
- was seized with amazement.
- recognized the sin of resistance and unbelief in his heart.
- humbled himself before Jesus, falling face down at Jesus’ knees, calling Him Lord (this Greek word is different from the earlier time he called Jesus “Master” and this word’s, actually, used twice in this verse); it means “owner.” To Simon, Jesus wasn’t just the guy giving orders; He was Simon’s owner…his Master.
DO YOU FEEL ALONE?
Have you ever felt a bit alone, obeying what the One you belong to (God) has asked you to do, or wondered what the purpose is?
Did (or does) it comfort you to know that Jesus is with you on the venture He asked you to embark on…and that He has a purpose?
Share your story…reply at the bottom of this post. I look forward to being seized with amazement concerning how God is using you for His purpose!
Clenched Fist or Open Hand?
It was 4:45 a.m. when I woke from a dream. I don’t remember what I dreamed, but I do remember vividly how tightly clenched my fists were in the dream…and when I woke up…so much so that my hands hurt. It took a conscious effort, once awake, to pry my hands open, which I knew needed to happen, as the clenched fist was causing me pain. I asked the LORD if He was trying to tell me something and if He wanted me to share it with you all. The answer to both was “Yes.”
WHAT DO HANDS REPRESENT IN A DREAM?
In doing some research, I found that dreaming about hands tends to represent an association between the dreamer and what is around them. I don’t remember who or what was in the dream; I just recall black. Well, I can tell you that my week has been peppered with “black” (darkness). The thought being impressed on my mind was how the enemy doesn’t want me to soar above my storms, as I wrote about in the last post (check out the link at the end of this post, if you missed it); he wants me fighting them. “Funny” how the enemy closes in hard, when you’re talking about stuff like that!
I believe my dream had both fists clenched, but what I remember is waking up and staring at my right hand, specifically.
“And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body go into hell.”
Matthew 5:30 ESV
“‘For I, the Lord your God, hold your right hand; it is I Who say to you, “Fear not, I am the One who helps you.'”
Isaiah 41:13 ESV
“Your right hand, O Lord, glorious in power, Your right hand, O Lord, shatters the enemy.”
Exodus 15:6 ESV
WHAT WAS GOD SHOWING ME?
A day or so after the dream, I was talking with my mom, and the Spirit of God showed me that I was sinning. I had some desires concerning my dear kiddos that were so pure, yet I saw how I was taking responsibility for the timing of those desires. The darkness had rolled in, I’d pulled up my sleeves, and clenched my fists. My kids were/are worth fighting for! Yet I could hear His whispers through my clenched fists, the dream, and the conversation with my mom. His message?…
- I needed to admit my sin and turn from it.
- Don’t be afraid.
- My open hand is ready for the LORD to hold it.
- My right hand (symbolizing authority) was a clenched fist, wanting to control the timing of God-sized decisions, but willingly opening it to the LORD, shows my trust in His timing and rule.
- The LORD is the One Who shatters the enemy!
- An open hand is more effective in fighting off the enemy.
OPEN HANDS VS. CLOSED
In hand-to-hand combat, “The use of open hands…allows the arms/hands to stay relatively relaxed, which facilitates greater speed and power, and better reactive use. Closing the hands to punch tends to tighten up the arms, which creates tension and slows things down, both of which lessen impact potential. Additionally, closing the hands limits options; the user can only really punch. Opening the hands, in addition to relaxing the arms,…allows for numerous options for use of the hands/arms…the hands are ready to (as required) [slap], grab, push, poke/claw/apply pressure (fingers), or with training, use different aspects of the hands (palm, fingers, edge of hand, thumb and so on). Therefore, open hands are far more versatile. In terms of the physical result from use, open hand slaps can certainly cause as much, if not more, trauma than closed fist punches. By keeping the arms relaxed, power generation through the limbs is greatly enhanced, allowing not only faster strikes, but also the ability to apply ‘heaviness’ through the strikes. This aspect not only can cause trauma to the target, but can also have an effect on the psychology of the attacker by ‘shocking’ their psyche.”1
My sin is confessed, I’ve opened my fists of anger and control, which brought me pain, and released my hands to the One Who is faithful, is holding me, and promises to help me. My open hands have relaxed my heart and mind and have welcomed the work of the Spirit of God, Who fills us with His power (Luke 24:49). Much to the enemy’s chagrin, I’m locking in and soaring on the “wind” (Spirit of God)! “The ability to apply ‘heaviness’ through the strikes?” Heaviness and weightiness are definitions of “glory!” May God get more glory through these opened hands!
1 Kay, Richard. “Open Hand Versus Closed Fist – Practical Application For Public Safety.” Security Solutions, 12 August 2016, https://www.securitysolutionsmedia.com/2016/08/12/open-hand-versus-closed-fist-practical-application-public-safety/#:~:text=The%20use%20of%20open%20hands,of%20which%20lessen%20impact%20potential.
How Do I Rise Like an Eagle?
If you’ve graduated high school, do you remember your class colors or motto? I remember our colors, but, sadly, not our motto. I DO remember our class verse, which we also picked out at a Christian school:
“But those who wait for the LORD [who expect, look for, and hope in Him) will gain new strength and renew their power. They will lift up their wings [and rise up] like eagles [rising toward the sun]. They will run and not become weary. They will walk and not grow tired.”
Isaiah 40:31 AB
This sounds really nice, doesn’t it…but what does it look like in our lives…for real?!? Does it mean that we’re not really “waiting on the LORD,” if we’re plum exhausted? Will we never get tired or weary?
WHAT DOES THIS VERSE REALLY MEAN?
I heard a sermon the other day by Dr. James Merritt that really blessed me (a link to the full sermon is available at the end of this post, if you have time and want to consume it all*)! It opened my eyes to so much within the last verses of Isaiah 40, but I’m just going to settle in on Verse 31 with you, for now.
Here are some things that stood out to me:
- Dr. Merritt explained that “waiting on” the LORD isn’t sitting around, doing nothing. My brother was a waiter at an early point in his resume. I can tell you, for certain, that he didn’t sit around! He was active, serving his customers…and when he wasn’t serving his tables of customers, he was attending his fellow servers, helping them out with their large tables, etc. The same is with us; when we “wait on the LORD,” we keep serving Him. We’re active in what we know He wants us to be doing, even though we may not be given the answer yet for what were going to do. We don’t go far; we keep checking in to see what else He wants for us…to know our next step.
- When we keep checking in with the LORD and actively serve Him, we’ll gain power through the Holy Spirit. The Greek word for “renew” in this verse means to change garments for better ones. I love this! We take off our ability and put on His! His ability is what enables us to complete what He asks of us! It’s up to us to make this “garment” change…to keep checking in; to keep serving Him; to trust His ability, rather than our own.
“‘but you will receive power, when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem and in all Judea, and Samaria, and as far as the remotest part of the earth.’”
Acts 1:8 NASB
- Did you know that all birds try to quickly get away from a storm…all birds except the eagle?!? I didn’t until Dr. Merritt mentioned this in his sermon. Apparently, the eagle flies into the winds of a storm, “using the storm current to rise higher quickly. The pressure of the storm is used to help them glide without using their energy, as their wings’ unique design allows them to lock in a fixed position amid the violent storm winds.“1 Does your mouth drop, too, when you read that?!? How intentional God is in His design of creation! What a beautiful visual this gives us for how He wants us to live!…Throughout Scripture, the word “Spirit” also means “wind!” We don’t have to run from our storm! We can head right into it; fix our hearts and minds on Him; and use the storm to catapult us closer to God, as His Spirit enables us to soar!
- If we’re exhausted, we need to ask this: “Am I 1) riding the storm, locked into a fixed position, being moved purely by the Spirit, 2) running away from the storm, or 3) trying to fight the storm in my own strength?” If we’re exhausted, my guess is that our answer isn’t the first one. We may be exerting much energy…maybe, for a long time…with reduced or limited results. If we’re weary, it’s likely we’re running from the storm or are trying to find our own way in it…in our own power.
- In using the storm’s current to rise high quickly, the eagle finds itself rising out and above the storm. It doesn’t mean the storm’s no longer there; the eagle’s just found safety.
*Below is the link to Dr. Merritt’s sermon. It’s 40 minutes long; click this link, if you have time and want to watch/hear the entire message!
https://www.touchinglives.org/watch/stress-for-success
1 Holbrook, Patricia. “Learn from the Eagle: The Challenger of the Storms.” The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, 2 Aug 2019, https://www.ajc.com/lifestyles/religion/learn-from-the-eagle-the-challenger-the-storms/juRFhn9zZveJKZEWv2muRI/#:~:text=Fearlessly%2C%20the%20eagle%20would%20fly,amid%20the%20violent%20storm%20winds.
Happy New Year! Revised Look and New Lengths of Posts
If you typically don’t set New Year’s resolutions, you’re not alone. According to CBS News, only “29% of Americans say they will be making New Year’s resolutions [in 2022], down from 43% a year ago.”1 I started looking at this new year toward the end of last year. I don’t typically make New Year’s resolutions, but I do have one this year…My resolution is to make the necessary changes that God’s communicating with me in order to communicate better with you all…not just better, but in a way that allows you to soak up what God may have for you in the time you’ve been given.
WHY ARE CHANGES TO LIV NEEDED?
I recently got an email that had an amazing hook! To get the answer to this hook, I was encouraged to watch a video link. Excited to gain this knowledge, I began watching the video. I watched and watched…for what seemed like forever. There was no fast forward option and no time bar at the bottom to show how long the video would take. Time ticked by, and it seemed like the guy kept saying many of the same things. “If you keep watching, I’m going to answer this question and more.” Ugh! “Answer it all ready,” I thought! “I don’t have time to sit here all day.”
This got me thinking, “How many times have you read a post and just didn’t have the time to read it all the way through because of its length or the time that you had?” I admit; I can be verbose! I, actually, worked for someone once who cut me off in the middle of the information I was giving to tell me to get to the point. That totally frustrated me, because if I would’ve cut to the chase from the beginning, I would’ve been asked to explain how I got there and why I thought that was so. The reason for this behavior, I believe, is time. It wasn’t that the information wasn’t important; my boss just didn’t have the time for it then.
WHAT CHANGES ARE GOING TO BE MADE?
In an effort to help remove these possible barriers, the LORD has shown me a few changes I can make:
- Format my posts a little differently with headers before sections of the post, telling you a bit about what’s going to be covered.
- Bold main ideas within the text.
- Keep the lengths of the posts a bit shorter than they’ve been over the last year.
I know many of you are crunched for time and have a lot of information vying for your attention. Hopefully, these changes will better enable you to skim through future posts, if you’re short on time, and allow you to get something small out of it in the short-term and dig in further later, when time allows or you decide it’s worth diving deeper into.
You’ll see these simple changes within this post to help give you a better idea. What do you think? Do these changes help you, specifically? Leave a reply at the bottom of this page; I would love to hear your feedback!
My Prayer
The LORD has set this before me, and I want to serve Him (and, therefore, you) well. I pray these changes will allow me to do that better, and you don’t just close these posts due to their length and/or the time you have, like I did, when I was watching the video I mentioned earlier. I’m sure whatever the information was in that video was great for those who endured. I didn’t and, probably, missed out. I don’t want that to happen here. I’m confident God is giving me these words for a purpose each week. Maybe that purpose is just for me and my growth…and, maybe, it’s for you.
I love you and am praying for you, Liv Community! As I said in my very first post, “This is my prayer…That, through my life and this site, as I have dedicated both to Him, you will be brought to Jesus, and the river of life will flow out of your heart in a powerful way…”
1 Backus, Fred. “Fewer Americans are Making New Year’s Resolutions This Year.” CBS News, 31 December 2021, https://www.cbsnews.com/news/new-years-resolutions-americans-opinion-poll/.
Where’s My Attention/Emphasis This Christmas?
Getting the kids caught back up in school from being out with Covid, post Covid cleaning, Christmas shopping, decorating, plans with family, parenting…There are many things that are occupying my brain space, yet God keeps reminding me this season of joy.
“But the angel said to them, ‘Put away all fear; for I am bringing you good news of great joy—joy for all the People.”
Luke 2:10 GWT
Lots of kids stand in line this time of year to meet Santa Claus. When it’s their turn, he bends over to pick them up and set them on his lap. He leans in to hear of the one gift they really want for Christmas. This whole experience brightens up some of their faces in the hopes that their Christmas wish will come true; and then, there are those who are utterly terrified of every single detail of it…the strange elf helper, the bearded man, not being next to Mom or Dad, pictures, the uncomfortable Christmas sweater they had to wear, or the bow so tightly tied in their hair…
There are child-sized fears, and there are adult-sized fears:
- Are we going to have enough money this Christmas?
- Will the weather cooperate, so we can all get together?
- What gift do I get for someone who means so much to me, but has everything?
- Will Covid hit our family and keep us from getting together?
- Will my kiddos love and desire Christ above all else?
- How do I share about the One we’re focusing on in a way that someone will hear about Him and not be offended?
Years ago, a heavenly messenger was sent to tell shepherds some good news. No, they didn’t sit on Santa’s lap and request this news. We aren’t even told if they’d asked Almighty God for or about it! Yet God, in His kindness, willingly leaned His head down toward those shepherds to give them His undeserved approval, support, and the great news of Jesus. He gave them His grace, and when they were aware of this favor God was giving them, it gave them intense joy!
This awareness of God leaning toward them, willingly giving His grace and favor, is actually the real meaning of joy…and where it comes from!
A stirring admiration affected their emotions and minds. Yes, their occupations made them unclean, but isn’t that why Jesus came–for all those who are unclean with sin (Mark 2:17), to forgive His people’s sins (Matthew 1:21)? God chose the shepherds with intention! He chose them, because He knew He’d have their attention; He chose them, because He knew they, like sheep, would listen and follow directions well; He chose them, because they’d respond right away, their excitement would be contagious, and glory and praise would be given back to God alone! There’s nothing mentioned about their cleaning up before they met Jesus. They just left right away, short tunic and all…not just to see this message come to life with their very own eyes, but so they could “see it” in their minds–to “get it,” to understand. They had an urgency…an emphasis…and chose to go!
The GOOD NEWS, the teaching and revelation of Jesus, the Messiah, isn’t something we’re to be afraid of and shy away from! To share this message with others is a proper response, when we consider that God bent toward us to share it with US!
Does this stir up an awareness and excitement in me, or am I numb to the message?
If I have joy, is it contagious?
Does God have my attention, or am I distracted? Am I more aware of beautiful decorations, Christmas movies, family traditions, and gifts, or am I clearing out time and brain space to see…to understand the messages He’s sending of His favor?
Clear some brain space and let me know of an example you’ve seen of God’s favor this past week, a message that excites you! Your joy is contagious!
For more on the meaning of joy, check out the last post:
Emphasis–It Changes Our Perspective
“I never said you should say that!”
My daughter wrote a sentence down on a piece of paper the other day, brought it to me, and proceeded to ask of me what I’m going to ask of you: See the sentence above? Read it seven different times, changing the emphasis from one word to the next. For example:
First Time: “I never said you should say that!”
Second Time: “I never said you should say that!”
Third Time: “I never said you should say that!”
Continue through until you’ve read it all seven times…
…Did you notice how putting the emphasis on different words in the sentence changed its implied meaning? The first time implied that you never said it, but someone else did. The second time, you were emphatic that you never said that…and maybe you’re even a little annoyed or upset that someone would say you would. The third time, you never said it…out loud, but you probably thought it…
Same sentence…different perspectives and implications.
This got me thinking about where I put the emphasis when I go through situations, when I hear something, what I dwell on in my thoughts, etc., and how that emphasis directs where my focus and perspective is. In the sentences above, it was on the bolded words, but maybe in thinking about other situations, it’s on the tone someone used when they said something, what wasn’t accomplished, how someone rudely pushed themselves in front of me, etc. Where we put the emphasis can tend to distract us from where our emphasis should be…at least, for me.
“Rejoice at all times.”
1 Thessalonians 5:16 BSB
We tend to put the emphasis on “rejoice” in this verse.
Rejoice = To experience and be aware of God’s favor, causing us to be glad
“Rejoice” in Greek = “xaírō”
“Xaírō” = “xar” (favorably disposed, leaning toward) + “xáris” (grace)
Xaírō gives me the beautiful picture of God, leaning His head down toward His kiddos, willing to give us His undeserved approval, support, and kindness.
What if we were to put the emphasis on “all times” in the verse above? If someone gives you a nasty look, you remember God’s favor toward you and are glad; I think this would make it easier to respond in kindness. When someone says something snarky, not only remember God’s favor, but sit in it…experience it; this should cause you to be glad! When you’re afraid, remember God’s favor and be glad He’s caring for you! This is a hard thing to do all the time! I’ll admit; it’s not always on my radar, yet it’s something we’re commanded to do…and the emphasis can make a big difference on how we apply it to our lives.
To me, the big game changer is “being aware.” Have you ever gone to buy something new to you, thinking you’d never seen anyone have it before? Then, after you buy it, you see the same thing here, there, and everywhere?!? It’s not that these things suddenly appeared; it’s just that you’re more aware of them. What if we did that with God’s favor? We’d look for it; we’d notice it; we’d focus on it; and we’d remember it.
This is something I need to focus more on! In fact, while I’ve been working on this post, I’ve tried to do this more often…to be more aware of His favor. It’s honestly turned a frustrated perspective around several times for me, like an about face! Thank You, LORD, for bending over toward me, supporting me by teaching me through Your Spirit and Your word; Your kindness overwhelms me!
I think of the picture at the beginning of this post. The kiddo is looking off at something that has his gaze, but his mom is trying to redirect his attention…his focus. Sometimes, I’m so in the thick of things; I need someone to come along beside me and lovingly help me redirect my attention…my focus. When I focus on the negative, chances are, my perspective is negative. When I focus on the positive, like my God leaning toward me, willing to give me His approval, support, and kindness, my perspective will, most likely, change to be more positive, as it has many times this week.
Do you have people in your life who will redirect your focus and maybe even point out God’s favor in something you didn’t see yourself?
Are you this kind of person in others’ lives? Do you look for and experience God’s willingness to give you His approval, support, and kindness and boldly help others to do this, too? I say “boldly,” because it takes a special kind of person to break through the comfortable, assess the timing, and help direct others’ focus toward God’s favor! It’s a kind of person who’s dependent on the leading of the Holy Spirit!
Liv 