WISDOM'S JOURNEY: How do we view the world? Proverbs 22:4

How do we view the world?

TODAY'S PROVERB: The reward of humility and fear of ADONAI is riches, honor and life. Proverbs 22:4


What would life be like if we viewed the world through the lenses of humility and the fear of the LORD? What riches would be revealed?

There's a quote about someone looking through rose-colored glasses. In other words, they have an optimistic perception of something. Critics might think that optimism covers over reality. Followers of Jesus are often thought of as optimistic simpletons who don't live in reality.

It's interesting to note that there actually were "rose-tinted" glasses around the 1800s--they were thought to have medicinal value. Now, modern medicine is investigating their value. A study performed by researchers at the University of Birmingham, England tested a group of migraine sufferers by having them wear glasses with a rose colored tint called FL-41. Participants experienced a reduction in the number of migraines, from 6.2 episodes per month to 1.6 episodes per month. Perhaps the optimists were on to something.

How we view things spiritually, emotionally can also have a profound impact on our attitudes. Even the Mayo clinic says that positive thinking helps with stress management and can even improve your health.

Viewing the world through humility and with the fear of the LORD is more than positive thinking. It's about aligning our hearts and minds to His heart and mind.

He's the Creator of the Universe, so He might just have a different way of looking at the world than the average person.

What does He say about seeing what He sees when the world sees something else?

"Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of realities not seen." (Hebrews 11:4)

"Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable—if there is any virtue and if there is anything worthy of praise—dwell on these things." Philippians 4:8

"Then Elisha prayed and said, 'ADONAI, please open his eyes that he may see.' Then ADONAI opened the eyes of the young man and he saw, and behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha." 2 Kings 6:17

"Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves in tender compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience—bearing with one another and forgiving each other, if anyone has a grievance against another. Just as the Lord pardoned you, so also you must pardon others." Colossians 3:12-13
We can see a world where GOD sheds His grace and mercy everywhere.

We can rest in a place of understanding true gratitude, rather than entitlement.

We can walk in wonder through a fallen world and seek the hidden gems in the midst of rubbish.

All around us are souls hungry for the Bread of Life and our arms carry enough to feed those around us.
Our life is full and rich when our vision is sharpened to see more like ADONAI.

May we wear the lenses hand-fashioned for us by our loving Heavenly Father, my friends.

[WATCH Tree of Life Bible Society's CEO, Daniah Greenberg and me, Terri Gillespie, Author dig a little deeper with this proverb. Check us out at Tree of Life Bible Society, Monday through Friday, LIVE at 8:30am EST. Watch previous episodes there as well. Stay wise, my friends!]

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

WISDOM'S JOURNEY: Are you being diverted? Proverbs 4:27

Image
Are you being diverted? TODAY'S PROVERB: Do not turn to the right or to the left. Divert your foot from evil. Proverbs 4:27 I love flying at night. It's a vivid perspective of just how small we really are. Looking at the expanse of the sky with its stars is peaceful, stable. Gazing below at the man-made lights that glow with seemingly brighter intensity. But, that glow is temperamental. Subject to the frailties of humanity and technology, and believe it or not, dependent upon the grace of God. This verse reminds me that until we rise above our humanity, we'll be diverted from the bigness of the Creator of the Universe. It seems our world offers a plethora of distractions. They don't have to be evil, they simply have to be distractions that lead to diverting us from God's calling and purpose in our life. Like the bright city lights, they can drown out the still, small pinpricks of true light from the stars. Until we rise above. What are some of the distract...
Read more

WISDOM'S JOURNEY: Are you a voice for God's covenant? Proverbs 2:16-17

Image
Are you a voice for God's covenant? TODAY'S PROVERB: ...to deliver you from a seducing woman—a wayward wife with seductive words, who forsakes the partner of her youth and forgets the covenant of her God. Proverbs 2:16-17 Infidelity. The last few generations tend to think infidelity was something they created. For certain they have developed it into an art form using film, music, literature, and now, social media. Throughout Scrip ture and history, women have played as much of a role in this sin as men. Honestly, as women, we should know better. These days, women tend to look at fornication and adultery as their rights -- their choice. We can justify and defend all we want, but the truth is that it all boils down to this: our choice is whether we sin or don't sin. Not a popular thing to say. There's nothing new under the sun (Ecclesiastes 1:9). Humanity has been sinning since the Garden. And infidelity has the same patterns and outcomes as it did thousands of y...
Read more

WISDOM'S JOURNEY: Are you lame or reliable? Proverbs 25:19

Image
Are you lame or reliable? TODAY'S PROVERB: Like a broken tooth or a lame foot is confidence in the unfaithful in time of trouble. Proverbs 25:19 I have a "trick" ankle. There appears to be no rhyme or reason when it decides to give out. I'll take a step and it's like the bones turn to rubber. A misstep on stairs or a ladder or while carrying something can be treacherous. If I knew what caused the weakness then I could avoid  placing demands on it. But, alas, I don't know, so I can never fully trust it. Today's proverb counsels us about "trick ankle" people. Do you have people like this in your life? For the most part, they are reliable, but at unpredictable -- and inevitably important moments -- they are not reliable. Even when we forgive them for these events, we're still unsure if we can depend on them. It leaves a small residue on our ability to trust them completely -- at least for a season. My ankle is a vivid reminder of the import...
Read more