“But blessed are your eyes, for they see, and your ears, for they hear” (Matt. 13:16).
Romans 12:2 says not to be conformed to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. It’s easy to believe that we can be transformed by the changing of our circumstances—but the Bible says otherwise. When our perspectives are changed through the power of the Holy Spirit, we will think, speak, act and live differently, in the knowledge that we walk with a perfect God.
As my friend Bill Johnson has said, “What you know about God changes who you are. It defines your purpose. It defines your destiny. It shapes how you think most of all. Everything comes from your perspective on life.”
My question to you is, “What is your perspective?” In other words, “Where are you looking?” If you’re not looking to the One who created you and watches over you every moment of every day, you may feel discouraged or unsure of where you are headed. Sometimes, we can enter the New Year with a burst of motivation and renewed hope, but as the year continues we may get discouraged by a desire unfulfilled or a difficult situation. Regardless of where you may find yourself today, God is with you.
Eyes to See
When a servant of the man of God rose early in the morning and went out, a force surrounded the city both with horses and chariots. And his servant said to him, “Alas, my master! What will we do?” And he said, “Do not be afraid, for there are more with us than with them.” Then Elisha prayed, “Lord, open his eyes and let him see.” So the Lord opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw that the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire surrounding Elisha. (2 Kings 6:15-17)
In this story, the prophet Elisha and his servant are facing a seemingly impossible circumstance, surrounded on every side by enemies on horseback, ready to attack. But in that moment, Elisha saw what God was doing. He prayed for his servant to see that though they seemed to be hugely outnumbered, they had a heavenly guard of supernatural reinforcements with them that would ensure their victory.
It’s essential that we always have eyes to see what God is doing in every circumstance. When you look around and see that the odds seem to be “stacked against you,” ask God to open your eyes to see what He is doing. Ephesians 1 speaks of the “eyes of our heart”—spiritual eyes that can be opened to understand the hope we have in God, the beautiful inheritance He has for us, and the “surpassing greatness of His power to us who believe.” (Ephesians 1:19) Ask God to open the eyes of your heart, and be encouraged and reassured to see that He is not only with you, He is with you in all His glory and His power to assure your victory.
Ears to Hear
Abram said, “Since You have not given me any children, my heir is a servant born in my house.” Then the word of the Lord came to him, saying, “This man will not be your heir, but a son that is from your own body will be your heir.” He brought him outside and said, “Look up toward heaven and count the stars, if you are able to count them.” And He said to him, “So will your descendants be.” (Genesis 15:3-5)
Though Abraham and his wife were well past the age of conceiving a child, and had been unable to do so in their youth, God told Abraham that he would make him “a great nation” (Gen. 12:2). Abraham and Sarah waited many years to see the fulfillment of this extraordinary promise, but in the passage above, God reaffirms His word to him by re-directing his perspective.
God often wants to show us something or speak to us in a specific way, but we must have ears to hear, by being willing to listen for His voice. God led Abraham outside to show Him a beautiful vision that symbolized the fulfillment of His Word to him. When you are contending for a promise in your life, look to God, speak to Him and be specific in your prayers. God did not leave Abraham and Sarah to bear an heir in their own power—Sarah conceived miraculously, made possible only by the One who spoke the promise.
He Knows Your Journey
Though we may not always understand where we are on the journey towards fulfilling our destiny, God sees where we are headed. He knows what is behind us and ahead of us, and He is faithful to speak to us, guide us and partner with us in all circumstances. When you shift your perspective and see what God is doing, you will find renewed hope, strength and faith that only God can give. {eoa}
Ché Ahn and his wife, Sue, are the founding pastors of HRock Church in Pasadena, California. Ché serves as the founder and president of Harvest International Ministry (HIM) and the international chancellor of Wagner Leadership Institute (WLI). With a Master of Divinity and Doctor of Ministry from Fuller Theological Seminary, he has played a key role in many strategic outreaches on local, national and international levels. He has written more than a dozen books and travels extensively throughout the world, bringing apostolic insight with an impartation of renewal, healing and evangelism.
This article originally appeared at hrockchurch.com.
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