Do You See?

Sometimes it's good to just set aside your agenda for the day and look at the bigger picture.  What are your priorities for the day?  What are your most important relationships?  What is important in life?

I know these are big questions to be asking over your cup of coffee or deviled ham sandwich, but they are the kind of questions that show you where you are heading.  Your priorities determine your direction.  The question becomes, then, "How do your priorities align with God?"

Maybe the picture God has for your life is different than you think.  Many times, people talk to me about struggles in their life that show me how distorted God's picture for their life has become.  In other words, they picture they think God wants is not the picture God communicates that God wants.  Their "God picture" has gotten distorted.

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly. (John 10:10 NASB)

Jesus told his disciples that he came so that we can have life more abundantly.  In other words, God wants us to have a good life.  This is God's desire.  This is God's design.  Adam and Eve had a perfect life designed, created, and provided by God.  God warned them of the one place that could take this perfect life away from them.  Why did God warn them?  God wanted them to enjoy the perfect life.

"All this I have spoken while still with you. But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. (John 14:25-26 NIV)

God spoke to people through the days of Moses.  Then, God spoke to people through prophets, whose writings we still have today.  Finally, God came down in the form of Jesus to speak with us face to face.  God continues to speak to us today through the gift of the Holy Spirit.  All of these methods are God's way of communicating with us and pointing us to the life God wants for us.  God wants to give us an abundant life.

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. (John 14:27 NIV)

What would your life look like this week if your heart was not troubled about anything?  What would it feel like to go through a week without being afraid, anxious, or worried?  How great would it be to live the life God has in mind for us?  It starts with seeing God's picture.

How about you?  Do you see God's picture for your life?  Does it match what God has communicated to us in the past?  Is your picture distorted?  What does that picture look like?