I WILL STAND STRONG 30 DAY CHALLENGESample

Seeing the World Clearly 

Think about how many pictures you take on your cell phone. 

How many of them turn out any good? 

There’s a lot that goes into taking good pictures. You need the right aperture (the opening/width of lens that brings in a certain amount of light). The shutter speed (the amount of time image sensor is open to light) needs to match the subject in the picture (fast shutter for fast objects and slow shutter for motion blur). And the ISO helps to brighten or darken photos to produce better exposure. 

Now, when you adjust the aperture, shutter speed, and ISO on your phone or camera, your depth of field (subject that appears in focus) will be clearer and sharper in the photo.

Likewise, there are a few applications you will need in order to see the world clearly. 

The first, is to obey the Word of God. God’s Word will help you clearly see the big picture in light of eternity. David said in Psalm 19:8, “The commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes.” The word enlightenment means “illuminate; to dissipate ignorance and bring knowledge; to reveal the truth.” What David is saying is when you follow the Bible, it will give you the clarity, wisdom, and guidance needed as you navigate through life.

A second application is to pray. Prayer helps by giving you time with God. Anything from confessing sin to lifting up the needs of others—prayer acts as a lifeline between you and God. Paul writes, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God” (Philippians 4:6). When things seem to be out of focus in your life, prayer will help bring it back into focus. The more you spend with God in prayer, the clearer and sharper His will for your life becomes. 

A third application is to think about others. Let’s face it. If a person has a distorted view about love, then everything in their life will be out of sorts. Life isn’t about selfishness. It’s about demonstrating the sacrificial love of Christ to others. The Bible says, “Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms” (1 Peter 4:10). However, when you live to serve yourself—you miss out on opportunities for God to use you. Volunteering and serving others are vibrant ways to living a life of significance and making an impact in the world.

So, if you are having a hard time seeing things clearly in the world, ask yourself these questions: Am I truly letting the Word of God penetrate my heart? How much time am I spending in prayer? Do I really care about those around me?

Remember. The more you turn to God and rely on His promises, the greater your eyes will be opened to His majestic power and wonder.