The Glasses of Hope

Posted on by stevenlucht1

If I don’t put on my glasses in the morning, I can’t see very far. The picture is unclear and the details are morphed together. As soon as my glasses are put on, the details pop out and everything is clear again.

Where is your focus? Have you put on your glasses today?

Obviously, I don’t mean the physical glasses. The spiritual glasses. The glasses that help you focus completely on Christ. It seems that those glasses are the hardest to keep on for us. We tend to take them off and stay focus on just what we can see right in front of us. We lose side of what’s just beyond.

In my own life, if I don’t focus on Christ, I start worrying about what’s going to happen next and if God is going to provide in the areas that are always on my mind. I tend not to open my bible and seek wisdom but to try and stay oblivious to what God’s plan is by focusing in what is right in front of me.

Dangerous, I know. As Christians, we tend to do this quite often. We tend to only focus on the now.  We get worried about things working out or if God is going to provide for us.

Last night God had given me a clear sign that I have not been focused on Him. That I had lost my spiritual glasses… What a night… A quote that I have really enjoyed is by Billy Graham:

The Christian life is not a constant high. I have my moments of deep discouragement. I have to go to God in prayer with tears in my eyes, and say, ‘O God, forgive me,’ or ‘Help me.’
~Billy Graham

 

Satan loves to use those moments for his advantage. When we get on our knees knowing that we are sinful and need our Savior’s comfort. It’s a beautiful bonding between us and God when we go to Him for help. Don’t let Satan come in and make you feel guilt and despair. These are not from God but from Satan himself.

Focus on the love of God. Focus on how much God cares about you.

“No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

~Romans 8:37-39 (ESV)

Even though we may lose focus on God, worry like crazy, and fall into temptation, God will never cease loving us.

WHAT A RELIEF!

Like seriously, if this doesn’t get you excited, I don’t know what will. God of the universe love you and cares so much about you that if you lose focus on Him and turn from Him, He will always take you back. He will wrap His arms around you and pour His love upon you. OH MAN!

So, what does this mean? How can we keep on the spiritual glasses of life?

It’s easier said than done. However, it’s fairly basic. Each morning I try and spend some time alone with God. Giving Him everything in my life from family, friendships, relationships, and my day to day walk. Open your bible and focus on how much God loves you. I’ve found that when I focus on God’s love and try applying that to showing others God’s love, my relationship with God only increases.

So, when you wake up tomorrow morning, remember to put on the spiritual glasses and focus on God. The hope and assurance that Christ is in control.

 

He is in Control…

Posted on by stevenlucht1

Flying down the open roads of the LaCrosse area, taking hard turns and enjoying the time on my motorcycle. I came up to a ninety degree corner, feeling very confident, at about 30 to 40 miles an hour. There were bushes and trees on the corner of the lot prohibiting me from seeing what was on the other side of the corner. Still confident I entered into the corner enjoying the thrill. In a spit second I realized my life-threatening mistake. There was a large truck right in my lane, that was no more than 20 feet in front of me, headed my way. In a split second I tried to go around the left side of the truck, instead the bike slipped underneath me and took me across the road into a ditch that lead into a corn field. I was inches away from going head on with the truck…

I find it an absolute miracle that: 1) God didn’t take me home to be with Him that day and 2) I didn’t break one bone in my body. Needless to say, I was scrapped up a little bit but it definitely could have been far worse.

As I got up, while still in shock, I pushed my bike out of the corn field and up the ditch to get it on the road. I immediately sat down on the side of the road and felt almost every bone in my body to make sure i didn’t break anything. It took me several minutes to get back on my bike.

…I was horrified…

There was no way I was getting back on that thing, but I had to get back to my grandparents (where I was staying at the time). I very reluctantly threw me leg over my bike and started it back up. I knew I had to at least get back to my grandparents. I didn’t go faster than ten miles an hour the entire way back. In the back of my mind I constantly reminded myself that I almost killed myself.

I got back to my grandparents and looked at my bike. Thankfully, there wasn’t much damage to the bike either. However, I wasn’t getting back on that thing for a while.

I very much look forward to riding my motorcycle. The motorcycle that I was in the accident with has recently been sold mainly because I lost my trust in it.

Now, it could have completely given up on riding a motorcycle. I cringe just thinking back at the experience knowing that it could have been my last ride, and it only happened last summer.

I’m not one to talk about this story because it was very difficult to go through. Why do I tell you this story? The reason I am writing about it is because of certain recent events that has happened that made me remember it.

I learned two lessons from this experience.

The first lesson is that we need to give all of our praises and thanks to God at all times and through all circumstances. I will admit, I was very upset at myself for going too fast around the corner and for the trucker to be in my lane. However, I thank God that I was barely injured physically. I thank God that I am alive. Most of the time I speak very lightly of the matter, but I know if God didn’t help me avoid that truck I wouldn’t be here today.

Above all I am thankful I got in the accident. WHAT?!?! DID HE JUST SAY THAT!?! Yes, in fact, I did. I know how close I came to be taken to my heavenly home, but I know God had a better plan for me. I am thankful I got in the accident because it taught me to take my time and not to be so confident in myself especially when it comes to my safety and the safety of others around me.

~ 1 Thessalonians 5:18 ~
“Give thanks in ALL circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.“

The second lesson that it taught me was God is always in control. Even when I knew I had no control over my motorcycle God had control over me. He could have taken me home to be with Him, instead gave me a quick response to avoid a head-on collision. God will always be in control even when we feel we are out of control.

~ Joshua 1:9 ~
“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”