Shifting My Perspective
For the past few months, I’ve had a C.S. Lewis quote stuck in my head. Weird, I know, but here’s what I keep returning to again and again:
“It would seem that Our Lord finds our desires not too strong, but too weak. We are half-hearted creatures, fooling about with drink and sex and ambition when infinite joy is offered us, like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in a slum because he cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday at the sea. We are far too easily pleased.” The Weight of Glory
I have clearly seen this in my own life. I so easily find myself pulled away by other things that aren’t of God. I settle for less than God’s voice. I don’t seek him out with my whole heart. I am too easily pleased by less than God’s glorious presence.
I realized that my biggest problem, at its root, isn’t a sin problem but a priority problem. When I don’t prioritize God, I’m drawn quickly and easily back into sin. Because I don’t take time to fix my eyes upon God as often or for as long as I probably should, I become enamored with things around me. I am far too easily pleased by things that don’t compare to the goodness of God. I, too often, settle for less than God.
As I began to understand this about myself, I started to approach reading my Bible and praying differently. Instead of being a habit or routine, I started to shift these times into moments to behold God and appreciate him. I know that we sing worship songs about how good God is and talk in church all about Jesus’s forgiveness, but how often do we allow ourselves to sit and really embrace all he has done for us? Do we regularly carve out time and make space to soak in his presence?
I’m finding that when I focus more on all Jesus has done for me, then the more I want to serve him. The more I want to spend time with him. And as I come to experience more of his character, the more I want to be like him. When I see how splendid and awe-inspiring God is, the less tempting sin is.
As I’ve shifted my perspective away from how bad I am or all that I’ve done wrong and understood all God has done for me, the more I long to be like God. The more I open myself to allow the Holy Spirit to change me from the inside out. What about you?
Let’s slow down, behold God, and allow him to change our hearts, minds, and lives.
How do you create rhythms in your life to savor God?
How do your priorities shift as you draw nearer to God?
For more on practicing beholding God, check out Behold: 40 Days of Seeing and Savoring God.
Disclosure: Some links in this post are affiliate links, meaning, at no additional cost to you, as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.