blinders

Have you ever driven down the road and you see a horse and buggy traveling along the road? If you have, I’m sure that you noticed the horse (or horses) have blinders on. They will put those on the horse so that they don’t get spooked by whatever may be coming up behind or on the side of them. They are only able to see what is right in front of them.

Wouldn’t it be interesting to see a human wearing blinders? It was quite comical looking up pictures of such attire. (I see a new fashion coming soon) As humorous as it may be, so many Christians are wearing such contraption. Now, it may not be a physical blinder, but a spiritual blinder.

Too often my head can get the best of me. For whatever reason I will get in a frustrated mood. Once in this mood I will start to overthink whatever area of life that is giving me frustration or disappointment. From there, it only grows. I will get more frustrated because of my frustration. (Makes sense right?) My mind will start to believe whatever lie that has festered in my thoughts until I believe it to be reality. That’s when the spiritual blinders are put on. The reality around me turns into tunnel vision that looks right down on the dirt path I’m walking on. We see the potholes and mud puddles and forget to look up and see the beauty that surrounds us. It really boils down to ones pride and selfishness. One tends to see only what we want to see and not what God is trying to show us. In part, we forget who we are in Christ. In these times, I get thoughts of depression and negative self worth.

In our day to day lives we can get so caught up in the business. We quickly lose sight of our surroundings and all that God is providing. There are flowers flourishing and we see the dirt around our feet, He places paintings of awe and wonder around us in the sky and all we focus on is the cloudiness that dampers our day. He passionately pours out His love to us that we barely notice it because of our spiritual blinders. STOP AND SMELL THE ROSES! Satan loves the spiritual blinders, and he will gladly put them on for us. (Even though most of the time we put them on ourselves)

When these times of depression come, it’s like being in a small boat and it’s slowly sinking. I watch as I feel hopelessly fall deeper into thoughts of failure and doubt. Satan wants to destroy us in any way that he can. (John 10:10a) He would love to see us fall and to sink into these mindsets. Now the beginning of verse ten expresses the destruction that Satan would love to see. However, in the latter part of the verse it expresses to resist. Resist clearly means to block out or stop. He WILL flee from you! You have God on your side!

These blinders are just as easy to put on as they are to take off. Read God’s unfathomable Word, and get on your knees and pray. The greatest ways that you can resist those thoughts is by diving into the Love Letter from God, to get on ones knees in supplication and we should be in constant prayer throughout the day. What greater way than to spend time alone with God. Read about all that He has, is and will be doing in your life! I have a hard time being in a depressed mindset when I read about His love for me. Then spend time talking and pouring our your heart to Him. When we make a common practice of spending time devoted to God, we will experience a spiritual high that words will only dim the true breathtaking high.

Lately, I’ve started a habit that has greatly helped me in my day to day life. It helps keep these blinders off and be able to constantly see the blessings that God places all around me. Anytime a thought or lie creeps up into my mind I will immediately stop what I am doing and take a short time to ask God for help. God is the one that will give us strength to overcome whatever thought, sin, depression may try to creep into our heads. (Phil. 4:13)

So, will you join me in this quest? Life can get really difficult at times. Strive to keep the spiritual blinders off and to see all the blessings and beauty that is around us. God deeply desires a personal relationship with us! Take the blinders off and see what He is doing.

Know who you are in Christ.