The Awakening | The Worshipper's Thought of the Day

All of life is a heart matter.  I can't tell you how many times I've heard my pastor say this, but it's so true.  And the older I get the more my depth of understanding concerning this thought increases.  As I've shared before, sight is a function of the eyes and vision is a function of the heart.  People of vision ALWAYS have the proper perspective on life and the various situations it brings because people of vision see primarily with their hearts as opposed to their eyes.

You may be wondering why it's so important to have the proper perspective on life and what it brings. Simply put, the answer is so you're able to maintain your peace.  It's GOD's desire that we live free of stress, and the only way we can enjoy a stress-free existence is to remain in a state of peace.  Seeing what GOD allows to enter (or exit) our lives from the improper perspective creates stress--or, another term I like to use, dis-ease. That's right! Stress will LITERALLY make you sick, wheras being stress free will give you life.

Therefore, we should not allow our present circumstances to get the best of us.  Even Paul encouraged us to be content in whatever situations we may find ourselves (Philippians 4:11).  I'd like to challenge your understanding of this scripture.  In furthering considering the Greek word translated "content," consider another meaning of this word besides the commonly held understanding that being content refers to one's lot or possession. To be content also means "to be independent of external circumstances."  Living stress free is existing independent of external circumstances.  You can even go further and conclude that this is also descriptive of the walk of faith (2 Corinthians 5:7).  It takes being faithful (or "full of faith") to not allow our present, external circumstances to get the best of us.

Let's consider Lazarus, whose situation went from bad to worse.  How would you have approached this situation?  Well, Jesus chose to approach the situation in a manner that diametrically opposed this world's approach and obtained results that were astoundingly different from everyone else's results.  If you say Lazarus is dead, you'll grieve.  However, if you say he's asleep, you'll awaken him.  If you say your that your life is over because of where you are and that you'll be stuck there forever, then you'll be depressed.  However, if you have a dream that's seen beyond your present state, you can always plan to awaken your dream later so you can handle the present conditions.

It's imperative that we have vision, not just sight.  Vision is a view of your purpose (domain, area of gifting).  It's purpose in pictures.  When you walk by faith and not by sight, you believe the pictures more than the present.  More importantly, you have peace.  A life filled with peace awakens sleeping visions, whereas a life of stress mourns the death of one's present circumstances.  Endeavor, therefore, to be about the awakening--faithfully living independent of external circumstances in peace.