I had a moment the other day where I had a shift. My judgmental thinking, the comfortable “this is how I view this’ vision changed. I had to pause and SEE.
I have experienced so many changes in the last year that I have had to stop and process it all. I have been frozen in time. I say ‘stop’ but the reality is that I never really stop… My mind and body just keep going and going and going. This season has been very different than my norm of busy activity. I am still busy, but my mind has slowed and I have dwelt on things and thoughts that I would only have given a fleeting glance at in the past.
I read a passage in Galatians that referred to the viewpoint of a culture of believers in the New Testament. The Jewish believers were looking down on the Gentile believers and strongly suggesting that they assume the culture of the Jewish people with their salvation. This teaching, while concerned with Law versus Grace, was speaking to me personally about my perspective.
I was judging, with upturned nose, my neighbors with the messy yard, when I myself, was given SO MUCH LOVE and GRACE and FORGIVENESS. Jesus did not ask me to clean up my messy yard when I came to Him. He simply said, ‘COME.” And here I was, judging them on the external observation without ever knowing them or their hearts.
But then…this gets bigger… The thought extended to how I was thinking about those closest to me.
I was looking with critical eye on these that I love.. Simple things really, “ugh! the clothes on the floor again…’ ‘ewww. this house stinks.”
These thoughts wander harmlessly into my mind and I am polluted by them. One thought leads to another and pretty soon I am grouchy and mumbling about every little thing.
I was digging in the garden yesterday as I was mulling over this idea. The idea that my thinking wasn’t much different than the uppity people of the Galatian church. The rich damp dirt on my hands smelled so sweet; its earthy aroma intoxicating. I suddenly realized that my mom’s house, that I have always thought ‘stunk’, like mildew or something unpleasant, smells of this earth.
My heart melted. Her house has always smelled like this. The very thing that she has loved her whole life, the very thing that I myself love like crazy, the dirt!
I could not allow the feelings of disdain or disgust to live any longer in my head over that house and my opinion of it!
How many other things have I judged inaccurately? Where do I need a shift in perspective? I am asking my Lord for eyes to see clearly. I want to be able to see, really SEE, how He sees things and people around me.
Oh, Lord! Pour out Your power and Your grace upon my thinking that I might overflow with this upon everyone around me!!
"For you are all sons of God through faith in Jesus Christ."-Galatians 3:26