Open My Eyes: A 21-Day Fasting Devotional from Jentezen FranklinSample

Fasting Day 4: When We Only See What We Look For

Welcome to Day Four of The Twenty-One Day Fast. By now, you have endured the headaches of those first couple of days as your body began to shed itself of the toxins and poisons we have learned to live with the last twelve months. By today, your stomach has begun to shrink, and for many of you, your hunger has subsided provided you have been drinking enough water – your best friend. But what will begin to sneak up on you at this stage are those pesky cravings. Remember, for most people, your body runs on an internal clock and when you wake up the stomach says to the brain, “It’s breakfast time. Time to eat!” The same thing happens at lunch and dinner time. We’re believing God to open your eyes in every situation. You can choose to see the negative or you can choose to see the positive, and that’s what happens when you begin to fast. God opens your eyes to wonderful things that are happening all around you. Both of us have more to praise God for than to gripe about. There is a unique discipline to the approach that we take when we begin to say, “God, open my eyes to life. Open my eyes to joy. Open my eyes on this fast to hope and victory. Open my eyes, Lord, so that I can see not with a critical eye, but with an encouraging eye that is filled with vision and expectation, approaching every situation knowing that God is up to something amazing.” He can even take the bad situations and make them great. He can make a good situation out of what has seemingly been a disaster in your life. That’s why the scripture said: “All things work together for good to those that love God, and that are called according to His purpose.” Push through these moments of weakness by replacing them with prayer, praise or even a walk sometimes helps. Remember, you are not alone! We are all in this together and if you should need company, join us on the daily fasting blog at jentezenfranklin.org. 

Your Approach is Everything

I have learned that in every situation, people choose what they will focus on. Some are going to find everything that is wrong in every room they enter, while another group sees all the amazing and wonderful things that are happening. We see what we look for. The same applies to the way we see each other. There is a unique discipline to the approach we take to people, places, and situations. I have learned that your approach can speak life or death into every situation including your own. When that critical eye is turned on yourself it not only can be discouraging, it can be disastrous. But by the same token – approaching every situation knowing God is up to something amazing can take a bad situation and make it great – and a great situation and make it historic. 

I have learned that in nearly every situation, especially in tense or difficult seasons or moments, there are two kinds of people. Most are what I call “thermometers” while a much smaller number are “thermostats.” Thermometers can tell you all about the room. They can describe every difficulty and flaw in great detail and can even define the problem – often times when no one else in the room even knew there was a problem. Far too often, these well-meaning folks can carry a spirit of negativity that can stop a move of God in its tracks. They have an eye for detail which can be a good thing, but if that eye is only looking for what’s wrong in the room, it can miss everything good that is happening. They see what they look for and what they look for are all the flaws – all the imperfections and they miss a move of the Spirit taking place in the very same room. “Thermostats” on the other hand see the same room, even the same problems and, rather than just announce the issues, they adjust the thermostat – and the temperature in the room changes without anyone even noticing the subtle change. They see the value in what is happening and look for ways to call attention to the good and minimize the bad. They don’t just explain what they see – they take action.

Prayer:

God, take the negativity out of me, and put in me the spirit of hope, faith, and love. Lord, we agree for it. Touch our eyes, open our eyes to see the positive. Help us to think positive thoughts. Teach us to believe for good things. Remind us that we will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.