Warning!

I find myself in several long-term battles which God has designed for me. I have gone through many different phases of faith and lack of faith........fear, doubt, discouragement, anger, ineffective in ministry as well as hope, joy, encouragement, faithfulness and faith. After 2-3 years in the struggle, God is growing my view of Him and my faith in His plan. I have many moments of weakness and sinfulness when I am looking only at my circumstances and how I can fix them, but God is continuing to "show up" in my life in ways that my blinded eyes can see clearly........showing me His love, His faithfulness, His power, His sovereignty, His character.

In my private worship time this morning, I was so convicted and encouraged by one quote that applied to these long term battles we face as believers. I share it with you, praying God uses it to open your eyes to see where you have turned your gaze horizontal, rather than vertical.

"Beware! Long-term battle can cause vision impairment if eyes focus anywhere but up!"

That vision impairment means we have made our struggles bigger than they are and bigger than God; we have made ourselves bigger than we need to be (in our own minds) and yet weaker than we should be because we are not relying on God's power; and we have tried to make God smaller and weaker than our circumstances. Shame on me! As the song goes, "I am ashamed; O Lord, forgive."

God bless!