The Decision to Look

Could the biggest barrier to reaching out to others possibly be our attitude, which reflects the condition of our hearts?

God has blessed us all, every single person, with unique and perfectly suited gifts and strengths. These were given to us to be used for him and his kingdom. They are perfect and are meant to impact the people God brings our way. Some of us have a harder time feeling gifted, but trust me God has not overlooked you, they are there, you just have to ask him to reveal them to you if you are unsure.

Proverbs 20:12 Ears to hear and eyes to see—both are gifts from the Lord.

Romans 12:6 In his grace, God has given us different gifts for doing certain things well. So if God has given you the ability to prophesy, speak out with as much faith as God has given you.

1 Corinthians 1:4
I always thank my God for you and for the gracious gifts he has given you, now that you belong to Christ Jesus.

1 Corinthians 12:1 Now, dear brothers and sisters, regarding your question about the special abilities the Spirit gives us. I don’t want you to misunderstand this.

1 Corinthians 12:4
There are different kinds of spiritual gifts, but the same Spirit is the source of them all.

1 Corinithians 12:11
It is the one and only Spirit who distributes all these gifts. He alone decides which gift each person should have.

1 Corinthians 12:31
So you should earnestly desire the most helpful gifts.But now let me show you a way of life that is best of all.

2 Corinthians 9:11
Yes, you will be enriched in every way so that you can always be generous. And when we take your gifts to those who need them, they will thank God.

If the state of our hearts keeps us from being able to find joy in all places in our life, even when things are difficult, even when things are devastating, than we may miss the people we are supposed to see and impact with the gifts God has given us uniquely because those people can see on our faces the truth of how we feel. If we don’t care about something, it shows.
Maybe we are thinking about that so-and-so who just cut us off or that ugly tone our spouse had on the phone. Maybe we are lost in thought over bills, children, work or school and on our face, without even realizing it we have gone the majority of our day seeing no one anywhere we went, but everyone else saw us with that big ole scowl on our face.
Proverbs 15:29
A cheerful look brings joy to the heart;good news makes for good health.

Proverbs 18:1
Unfriendly people care only about themselves;they lash out at common sense.

I did this exact thing on Friday. I was so consumed in thought and what was going on in my own world that I got to the end of the day and I almost couldn’t even remember where I had been I was on serious autopilot, tunnel vision, or as my husband calls it “Laurie Land.”

You know- when you get home but you don’t really remember what direction you took, or someone is talking to you and half way through the conversation, there is no way around the fact that you don’t have a clue what they have just said…that is “Laurie Land.”

It’s not anger, frustration or anything really… a whole day of nothingness. Just traveling by, just visiting…no interactions, no memories of the faces or conversation of anyone or anything outside of my own head and honestly not much going on up there either.

Friday night I realized, I missed an entire day of work for God, and what for? I don’t even know. I did not begin that day with God, I did not have my prayer time with him, I did not set out with intention for anything at all. I was useless to God and when I finally realized it I was ashamed. Who had I missed today? Who did he need me to talk to or smile at? How serious are the consequences of my choice to be a big nothing all day?

Okay, I know for a fact that we all have these days and it is gonna happen, the point I was driving home to myself last night was that it would not be hard to slip into this pattern and before long not even realize I was doing it and that is when we become ineffective for God.

Proverbs 21:13
Those who shut their ears to the cries of the poorwill be ignored in their own time of need.

Blessed is he that considereth the poor: the LORD will deliver him in time of trouble. The LORD will preserve him, and keep him alive; and he shall be blessed upon the earth: and thou wilt not deliver him unto the will of his enemies.” Psalm 41:1

2 Corinthians 1:11
you also joining in helping us through your prayers, so that thanks may be given by many persons on our behalf for the favor bestowed on us through the prayers of many.

How do we open our eyes?

Once we decide to look it means we accept that God is now in control of what we see rather than us being in control of what we choose to ignore.
Maybe this means that as we allow God to allow our eyes to fall on things that are unfair, unkind, unjust and we don’t let ourselves turn our gaze. Maybe what we see makes us fearful or uncomfortable, maybe it is hard to look at, but we trust in the Lord that he has a plan for why this was meant for your eyes.

Maybe he knows you’re a person of action and he needs action, maybe he knows you are a person of compassion and he needs compassion for one of his children, maybe he has gifted you as a person of words and has put you in a place where he needs words. One thing, however, if your heart is not willing to allow your eyes to look then it doesn’t matter what God has gifted you with, your gift will bear no fruit for him unless your heart is open to act for him.

1 Peter 4:11 Do you have the gift of speaking? Then speak as though God himself were speaking through you. Do you have the gift of helping others? Do it with all the strength and energy that God supplies. Then everything you do will bring glory to God through Jesus Christ. All glory and power to him forever and ever! Amen.

All talk-
Romans 16:18
Such people are not serving Christ our Lord; they are serving their own personal interests. By smooth talk and glowing words they deceive innocent people.

Ohhh, a biblical smooth talker. What does that look like? When I read this verse I of course think of a sales person who is only interested in profiting from you not benefiting you. Can we be smooth talkers even if we have nothing to sell? I think so. Most of us like being liked and want to be accepted and we spend time talking to others and being a part of experiences that allow us to be social and get to know people.

Is the person they are getting to know a smooth talker and all talk, but no action? I talk a lot. I love to talk. Am I saying anything at all of value? Please don’t ask my husband or children that question.
What I really mean is there anything valuable for God in what I am saying or am I simply deceiving innocent people to benefit my own personal interest? I hope the real me is not, but that autopilot Laurie I was talking about earlier certainly can. A glazed over smile and obviously empty attempt at conversation because I am really thinking about something that is more important to me right then.

But how can I stay in tune? How do I keep that station set, without static, to what God needs me to see and hear? It can be so hard.

Maybe if we look at things from the perspective of the one in need.
Philippians 2:3
Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too.

At some point in our lives we will be that person in need. If we can look outward everyday from the perspective of what it feels to be in need, not for ourselves, but understanding what it feels like to be in need. Maybe there was a time of disappointment or feeling disheartened or letdown and no one called, no one smiled at you that day, a day when all you needed was a little kindness from even a stranger.

Psalm 69:20
Their insults have broken my heart, and I am in despair. If only one person would show some pity; if only one would turn and comfort me.

We have all been there at some time and how much faster we see God in a situation and can begin, or even just remember to lean on him rather than to keep plugging away without him can depend on the actions of others.
Remember that lost and abandoned feeling each day as you travel through your life and if you hold onto to the feeling of empathy towards others you are less likely to hold back on what God needs you to give.
It may not be money, it may not be a missions trip, it truly may be a smile or a short conversation or a complement. Do we not treasure a sincere complement?

Proverbs 15:23
A man has joy in an apt answer,And how delightful is a timely word!

This timely word could come at church, in the line for coffee, in the very long line at the grocery store, to total stranger who just for some reason captures your heart. God can use you anytime, anywhere and an act of Christian love or as some people like to call a random act of kindness, done a little less randomly, bears great fruit for God.

Challenge- Ponder your God given strengths; do you have the gift of hospitality, words, encouragement, listening, writing, intercession, speaking, being social… figure out a way to use these various gifts in a daily application and give it a try. See what happens and we would love to hear your story. Make a decision to engage someone in your day today and bless them by your unique God-given gifts.

Philippians 2:16:
Hold firmly to the word of life; then, on the day of Christ’s return, I will be proud that I did not run the race in vain and that my work was not useless.

Sweet Blessings,
Laurie