New Glasses, New Perspective

I know I haven’t been blogging as much lately…there are some EXCITING things going on around here & I’ll be sure to clue you guys in ASAP. I have some blog posts in the works too (including a SUPER fun giveaway!), but this one has been on my heart for a while so I had to get it out there.

A couple of months ago I went to the eye doctor to get new glasses. I have been needing them for a lonnnng time & just putting it off. I have “Astigmatism” which is ‘is a vision condition that causes blurred vision due either to the irregular shape of the cornea, the clear front cover of the eye, or sometimes the curvature of the lens inside the eye. An irregular shaped cornea or lens prevents light from focusing properly on the retina, the light sensitive surface at the back of the eye. As a result, vision becomes blurred at any distance.’ {Source}

Basically, it’s not a huge deal, but everything is a little bit blurry. I notice it most when I am trying to read a sign or screen far away. So, new glasses are in, and goodness gracious y’all, I can see SO CLEARLY! (Particularly when shooting at a gun target & driving. I hope the world feels a little safer.) I told Jonathan that I didn’t even realize how poorly I was seeing before until I got some new lenses…that blurry had just become “normal” for me. And as crazy as it sounds, the Lord used that metaphor to teach me something powerful!!

So many times, our vision (AKA perspective) is blurry. We assume the things around us are the problem, when in fact it’s not the other people or circumstances that are messed up …but it’s the lens we are looking through that is distorted.

(If you follow me on Instagram @ danielleb2922, you know that I had the hubby take this picture today especially for this blog post. And you also know I’m glad he did so I could see that I look like a nun. Outfit.retired.)

So here is the good news. When you become a born-again believer and the Holy Spirit comes to live within you, you have the opportunity to put on a “God lens” and see the world through HIS eyes. That allows us to love others who may not seem loveable, to forgive others who have hurt us, to have strength to make it through circumstances that are more than we can handle,  and to view trials and tribulations as a way He increases our faith and draws us to Him. It allows you to focus on your blessings instead of your problems and to count it all joy. Friends, that God lens is a beautiful thing that can change your whole world.

Is that not AWESOME? I love that God allows us the opportunity to see others and our circumstances from a godly perspective. But it takes effort on our part. It is not a ‘once and done’ kind of deal. Don’t you wish it was that simple? It’s a process and a daily choice we make. God wants us to seek Him DAILY and study the Word so we learn more about His character. That is how the Lord works through us to make us more Christ-like, which is a process called sanctification. And that is part of our ultimate goal as a Christian, right? To follow after the Lord with wild abandonment? To look more like Christ in our thoughts, actions, giving, serving, and loving? To be a light in a dark world that draws others to Christ? Romans 13:14 tells us “But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires.” That’s our job…to put on the Lord Jesus Christ, take every though captive, and allow HIM to do the rest. Whew, such freedom and REST in that.

Sometimes it’s not the view that is messed up. It’s our lens. Maybe it’s time to sharpen up our vision. Those glasses made all the difference for me. Seeing the world through Christ’s eyes can do the same.