The human mind is an amazing thing of God’s creation. It never stops, even when we sleep. God designed our minds to be a place of continual dialogue with Him, but this does not happen automatically. Unless we tell our thoughts where to go, they will slide down into darkness as easily as an egg rolls off the counter onto the floor!
Our thoughts are not neutral. We are either partnering with the intercession of Jesus or the accusations of Satan.
Recently Paul’s prayer for the church at Rome to abound in hope has been revived in my heart: “Now may the God of hope fill you will all joy and peace in believing, so that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit” (Rom. 15:13)
The God of hope! Seeing the end from the beginning, He “gives life to the dead and calls into being that which does not exist” (Rom. 4:17). He is the One who looked at childless Abraham and called him a father of many nations. Appearing to Gideon who had a complex about being the least He called him a “mighty man of valor.” He described David as a man after His heart, although David had some serious issues which caused him to stumble badly. He affirmed Peter’s willing spirit when his flesh was still weak. He called Paul forth as a love-stricken apostle while he was yet a murderer of the saints.
What does He see when He looks at you? You would likely be surprised by what He’d say. My guess is that you might sometimes—even often—look at yourself with more of the Accuser’s eye than the Intercessor’s. Dark words. Dark thoughts.
Did you know He has great hope when He looks at you? He sees in the midst of your struggles (and through them!) to the glory He is producing in you by them. He sees the gold while it is yet covered in muck, being refined in the fire. He knows the greatness and beauty of the vessel while it is yet a mass of clay. There is a smile in the Potter’s eye as He works!
Or do you think somehow He has hope in His eyes for everyone but you? Not so! He sees where you have come from, the challenges you are facing, and where you are going. He calls forth the little seeds of promise in you long before they are mature.
I love to grow garden plants from seed. I start them indoors before spring arrives because it takes so much time for them to grow. If I want to get 3 tomato plants, I plant at least 20 seeds because they don’t all make it. So when I see some little sprouts poking their tiny heads through the soil, I’m excited! As I water them every day, I can’t help but sing over them and speak to them, because I am glad they grew some more. Within a month, they are 2 inches tall; and while they are far from being a fruitful vine, I rejoice over them. When I look at a little seedling, I see a full-grown tomato plant. If I, being fallen, can feel so much pleasure in the process of a seed’s growth, how much more our Father in heaven over His children?
When we see ourselves as the God of hope sees us, it becomes a lot easier to also see others as the God of hope sees them. You can’t give what you haven’t received.
Receive God’s perspective over you, and you will be able to give God’s perspective over others.
As a start, just ask Him on a daily basis, “I want to see what You see and feel what You feel when You look at me.” (This is not selfish, it’s essential. It’s about agreeing with God.) And pray this concerning others.
I find that most times I get into a cranky spirit I can trace it back to some agreement with the Accuser in my thoughts. It usually starts with an accusation concerning my own heart and the Lord. I think He’s annoyed with me, tired of loving me. Then I feel sure others feel the same way about me. Before long, I feel annoyed with others, tired of being patient.
Sound familiar?
The cure of such a funk is quite simple: We break agreement with the lies. Then we fill our minds with the truth of who God is (He is the God of hope) and what He sees (fruit coming forth from struggle, if we yield to Him in it).
And we pray Romans 15:13 every time our thoughts start sliding downward.