The eyes of your understanding being enlightened that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints. Eph 1:18

Apostle Paul prayed that God would give us the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Jesus Christ; that our eyes of understanding would open as dramatically as when our eyes first opened as a baby. His focus was to literally revolutionize our perspective. Although we are all quite unique, perhaps a personal lesson in this truth can benefit you too. Please read on to find out if it does…

Without the need to get into great detail, a trusted friend, gently pointed out that I had a tendency to lament about certain things or events that happened in my past; and doing so was fruitless and not doing me any good. What this person said was obviously true, but more importantly was the opportunity for the Spirit of God to present Himself into the context of Paul’s prayer and our conversation. A stirring within me brought up Hebrews 13:8 – “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.” Romans 8:28 – “All things work together for good for those who love God and are called according to His purpose.” Add Jeremiah 1:5 – “Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee,” and Jeremiah 29:11 – “For I know the thoughts I think toward you, saith Jehovah; thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you hope in your final outcome.”

My understanding, belief, trust and surrender to a previous way of thinking, reflecting, speaking and behaving relative to surveying things of my past suddenly came under the purifying and living laser of God’s Word. If God is the Creator and knew me (and you) before we were even formed, then anything we’ve ever done or had done to us He already knew about. In spite of it, He declares that no matter what we’ve gone through, He is working it for good IF we love Him and surrender to Him and His purpose for our life. Not only that, He is for us…not against us. His thoughts are peaceful toward us; and in Him, our outcome is hopeful.

What then is my (our) lesson? Our faithful God and Father has been with me (and you) all along and way before. His grace and mercy or work in my (our) life is what’s critical and to be continually expected and appreciated. My (Our) unrestrained imagination and critical attitude no longer deserves first or any place in my (our) healthy thought process.

So family and friends, as people we still have a right to our say and how we perceive our past. Loving God and knowing that what He says is truth, however, should settle how we reflect, understand, believe, trust, and surrender in a more comforting and renewing way. As far as our redeeming God is concerned, our past is not beyond His powerful majesty and forgiving and restorative nature. With that established in our creative and positive imagination (eyes of understanding), it helps to make our today as good as it is… AND, with His divine heart, helping hand and hope, His best for us is yet to come!

Phil 3:13-14; Psalm 18:2; Psalm 56:13; Col 1:13; Eph 4:22-25; Rom 12:1-2