W@W WRAP – Week 358

A Different Perspective…

Read:

Act:

Let us be determined this week to remember that:

Immersing ourselves in God’s Word and contemplating His glory transforms us into His image. It allows us to experience His faithfulness and never-ending compassion, even in the midst of trouble, rejection, brokenness, loss, grief, fear and anger, which the Bible tells us we will inevitably face (John 16:33). However, Jesus came to help us see and experience life from a different perspective. When we look at our circumstances and others around us through His compassionate eyes, we can see hope instead of defeat, love instead of hatred, compassion instead of indifference, healing instead of brokenness, and kindness instead of greediness. By turning our thoughts and hearts towards the Lord, we can find restoration and strength. His grace helps us overcome hurt and scars, and His Word of truth can transform us, leading us to a place of understanding, hope, forgiveness and peace. It is in His presence that we find wholeness, the blessings of an abundant life, and the strength to persevere even through hardships. As John 14:27 (AMP) reminds us, “Peace I leave with you; My [perfect] peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be afraid. [Let My perfect peace calm you in every circumstance and give you courage and strength for every challenge.]”

Depending on God by abiding in His love leads us to receive His saving grace and have eternal hope. Our connection to Jesus, as our life-giving vine, enables us to bear fruit, for without Him we can do nothing (John 15:5). Therefore, let us continually seek to deepen our relationship with God, grow in our faith, and allow His presence to guide and sustain us. This will enable us to know God’s heart and understand more about His Kingdom-perspective. It will allow us to seize every day, every opportunity, every moment, making the best of the minutes God has given us here on earth to serve and honour Him in all we do. May we learn to surrender all to God, deny ourselves and live for God’s glory, continue to serve and think of others, walk by faith and hold onto God’s promises for us and move forward, even if little by little, moment by moment. And doing so in the knowledge that our Lord is right beside us, leading and teaching us as we embrace each step we take. Fuelled by our gratitude for God’s grace, compassion, love and faithfulness, may we be motivated to live in a manner that glorifies and extols Him, for He is undeniably deserving of all honour and praise. And as others see that our hearts are focused on God’s Kingdom and not consumed by this world, they may long to have the same peace in their lives. This presents us with the opportunity “to give a [logical] answer to anyone who asks us to account for the hope and confident assurance [elicited by faith] that is within us” (1 Peter 3:15).

Pray:

Father, please help us heal from our painful emotions so we are no longer focused on them and are thus able to be still and know that you are God so we can see You at work in our lives. You do not desire us to stay in our sorrow, regrets, fears and anger. You desire us to have an abundant life – one in which we have a deeper and more meaningful relationship with You. We praise You Jesus. Thank You for what You have done. Thank You that You walk with us through every moment of our lives. I pray this in Your holy name.

Father, thank You so much for sending Your Son Jesus. He is truly the pearl of great price. He is the One that we should be giving up everything to serve and follow because He is worthy of our worship. Lord, our own hearts grow dark. But please shine the light of Your Holy Spirit in order that we may recognise the value of Jesus. We ask this in Jesus’ own precious name.

Father, I believe that all of us here want to abide in You, rest in You, remain in You, stay connected to You more than we already do. Help us. Teach us. Show us how we can do that. And it’s going to look different for each of us. May we have ears to hear and eyes to see and courage to respond and to be obedient to You. In Jesus’ name we pray.

Father, thank You that You are always with us. And You always want us to remember we’re Your children, and You love us, and You are good. Lord, that You may increase in us and we would decrease, and that we would seize each day. In Jesus’ name.

Lord, thank You so much that we’ve got hope, peace and joy. Not because of our brokenness, but because You are who You are. Thank You for being our God. Without You, we are so incredibly lost and we’ve got no hope. But with You, we’ve got hope, we’ve got a life that has meaning and that will get us into Your arms. And one day we will run into Your arms and You’ll say, “Well done, good and faithful servant,” because of how good You are. Thank You. In the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.