20/20 Vision in 2020
2020.
A new year.
A new decade.
The turning of the calendar always signals reflection. We resolve to break bad habits and institute good ones. Gym memberships soar and sugar is ditched. Alarms move earlier as efforts re-double.
At least for the first few weeks of January.
Then, statistically, a vast majority of us slip back into old habits of money spending, eating poorly, not exercising, etc.
To combat the notorious failure of New Year’s resolutions, we’re encouraged to establish SMART goals (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic, and Timely), or have GWI (Goals With Intention), or get accountability partners, or ditch goals all together and accept ourselves as we are.
I’m pursuing a different approach. Instead of DOING better in 2020, I’m aiming for SEEING better.
I Can’t See
Confession: I live my life moving full steam ahead. I make plans. Start projects. Create. Work. Do. And THEN ask Jesus to rubber stamp it all to His glory.
Hmmmmm. That seems backwards.
Unless I begin to see life through Jesus’s eyes, I’ll always stumble over my own best efforts because my flesh impedes a Spirit-led life.
Scripture tells me:
But the LORD said to Samuel, "Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the LORD sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the LORD looks on the heart.” 1 Samuel 16:7 ESV
This verse recounts Samuel trying to anoint the next king of Israel. But the obvious choices to him weren’t God’s best plan.
Ouch. How often do I observe the “obvious” will of God in my own eyes and run off in a hurry? And all the time, His best is not even in the room yet.
To see as the Lord sees, I need to recognize my blindness. And then I must turn to Jesus who restores sight and gives light to move forward.
Help Me Jesus!
…the LORD opens the eyes of the blind. The LORD lifts up those who are bowed down; the LORD loves the righteous. ~Psalm 146:8 ESV
Every time I REMEMBER that I’m blind and in need of healing and restoration, I can turn to my Healer. He opens my eyes. He heals my blindness. He restores my vision.
I have no idea what 2020 holds. It could hold breakthrough, advancement, and victory. Or it could hold sickness, tragedy, and loss. Most likely, it will contain a bit from both lists.
But whether in victory or defeat, I’m blind until Jesus restores my sight. He is with me in every extreme and in charge of good and bad, and working His will in the worst or best situation.
How my life feels is no indication of His will being accomplished in my life. I can successfully move in the wrong direction. Or devastation can be part of His plan.
Without His healing I will be blind to see His plans and recognize His hand.
20/20 Vision in 2020
In today’s society, information overload and shouted opinions and political vitriol and moral ambiguity overwhelm my vision. It all drowns my thinking and moves my feet from the Rock.
And I will lead the blind in a way that they do not know, in paths that they have not known I will guide them. I will turn the darkness before them into light, the rough places into level ground. These are the things I do, and I do not forsake them. ~Isaiah 42:16 ESV
How does Jesus lead this blind girl? In my 37ish years of following Jesus, the most reliable guide has always been the Word of God— the Bible. Immersion in Scripture enables me to SEE through the smoke and past the mirrors. It reveals the fact that my opinion doesn’t matter. (And sorry, but yours doesn’t either.)
Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. ~Psalm 119:105 ESV
For healthy spiritual and emotional eyesight in 2020, I must dive deep in Truth daily.
The Bible restores sight, informs the mind, conforms desires, establishes direction, and lights the way.
Eye Exam
In 2020 I want to love better and stand firmer. And SEE clearer. The only way to accomplish that trifecta is to be IN the Bible. Every opinion filtered through Scripture. Every conviction submitted to Jesus.
This month we will be looking each week at ways to dive into truth. HOW do we study the Bible? How do we pour the Lord’s restoring, healing wisdom into our souls so we can see?
Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf unstopped; ~Isaiah 35:5 ESV
Don’t worry about your doubts. Don’t listen to the voice that says the Bible is confusing. The One who promises to open our blind eyes will lead us into His truth.
So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ. ~Romans 10:17 ESV
Let’s go to Jesus for an eye examine. Let’s tell Him we need healing. Let’s submit to His Word and ask Him to help us recover heavenly sight.
And Jesus said to him, "What do you want me to do for you?" And the blind man said to him, "Rabbi, let me recover my sight.” ~Mark 10:51 ESV
Come back next week for some ideas of how to pour the Word deep into your soul. As we resolve to stay in the Bible through 2020, every other resolution will fall into place.
My resolution for 2020? 20/20 vision through Jesus.