Don’t Blink

The enemy would like nothing more than for us to turn our backs for a moment, to look away for a time or to blink, when it comes to our faith. I don’t meant turning our backs away from our faith. It could mean simply becoming comfortable. Forgetting to pray or spend time in worship. Even a situation that moves us away from our normal routine can cause us to blink and before we know it the enemy begins to plant doubts.

I’ve experienced this. Especially when it comes to situations that arise that keep me from a normal routine. I would doubt many people are immune to this either.

I have learned what I need to do to find my focus again. What I need to do to keep from blinking.

We always have a choice in how we look at a situation. Oh it’s not always easy to change our perspective. I totally get it, but it is often vital that we do. Vital to our spiritual, mental and physical health.  We can look at an experience and allow it to turn our hearts bitter or we can choose to look at it through a different set of lenses. Lenses that can give us peace and life.

Just do a search for articles about the effects of gratitude and you will find overwhelming studies that show being thankful can change your entire mindset.

I had to take a couple of packages to the post office recently. Let’s be honest. Going to the post office is not one of the most enjoyable errands in life. The line is always far too long and we’re in a hurry plus there is always that one worker who is just grumpy. I know God is not worried about how frustrated I get when the line at the post office is ridiculously long. I mean children are starving in Africa, but it does not keep me from asking him when I’m on my way to make it a short line. So when I get to the post office there aren’t too many cars there. Then I get inside and I barely have to wait five seconds for an available worker. That alone makes it worthy of thanks, but the normally grumpy worker was in such a pleasant mood also! It gets better, too. A kind older gentleman walking from the PO boxes stops to open the door for me as I am leaving. I say thank you and then look back to see he wasn’t even following me out! He just stopped to open the door for me before he went inside to the postal workers! As I’m looking back I also notice the sun is beginning to break through the clouds. Clouds we can’t seem to be rid of this winter.

If I had not taken a deep breath and placed my focus away from my task for the day I would have walked right past each of these incidents without giving thanks.

Personally, I need to record these gratitudes. Maybe it’s how my brain works; like being able to remember names and information better when I put pen to paper whether digitally or traditionally. But putting the things for which I am grateful in writing works the gratitude deeper into my spirit. If I look at every experience through a day and count even small aspects of the day as gifts, as little graces from God, my heart is much less likely to turn away.

I am task driven. I love seeing something crossed off a list. I feel like I’ve accomplished something in my day if I have a list and can check them off.

But there is a downside to being task oriented. One I have to consciously make an effort to overcome. I don’t pay attention. I don’t notice the little things I should see. I miss things I should count as gifts. I miss the mother with young children in the grocery store who simply need a small word of encouragement or simply just a smile. If I get so focused on crossing off my to-do list I won’t notice the opportunities God wants to use me so He can bless others.

 

Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. But resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same experiences of suffering are being accomplished by your brethren who are in the world. (‭1 Peter‬ ‭5‬:‭8-9‬ NASB)