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“We don’t see the world as it is; we see the world as we are.”

A thought by Mark Batterson, Richard Foth, and Susanna Foth Aughtmon (2015-04-28) from their book, A Trip around the Sun: Turning Your Everyday Life into the Adventure ofa Lifetime (p. 126). Baker Publishing Group. Kindle Edition. Click on the title to go to Amazon.com to buy the book.)

Mark continues this thought by saying, “As a pastor, I’ve seen this play out over and over again in the lives of the people around me. I’ve learned that if someone has a critical eye, they will always find something to be critical about. And if they have a grateful eye, they will find something to celebrate even in the worst of circumstances. The Bible calls this having a ‘good eye.’”

Matthew 6: 22– 23 says, “Your eye is a lamp that provides light for your body. When your eye is good, your whole body is filled with light. But when your eye is bad, your whole body is filled with darkness” (NLT).

He then says, “Having a ‘good eye’ in life changes how you see yourself and everything around you. We have a core value in our family that we borrowed from Qui-Gon Jinn’s conversation with Anakin Skywalker: your focus determines your reality. We want to have a ‘good eye’ as we walk through life. We want our reality to reflect the good things we choose to focus on. One way I do it is by keeping a gratitude journal. That’s how I count God’s blessings. I literally number them. Year to date, I’m on #471. My goal is to hit a thousand by year’s end.”

That is a very good idea.  We need to do all we can to enhance the way we see life.  Maybe this would be a good thing for you to do if you are seeing life totally from a critical or negative stand point. 


So how do you see the world around you?

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  1. UnknownJune 11, 2015 at 1:38 PM

    My job has taken me to a number of developing nations and I've met people in extreme poverty. While they are in desperate circumstances (and we need to share our wealth with them) they are often grateful for even the smallest things. Looking at the fact that I was born in Australia, am surrounded by people I love, and have a place to call home, I can't help but be grateful. When I then think of all that God has done for me through Christ, I have no cause for complaint.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Bill WilliamsJune 11, 2015 at 1:51 PM

    We have so much to be grateful for. God is so good.

    ReplyDelete

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