July 2021
Nougat 16
In the picture below, what do you see? Feet trying to fill someone else’s shoes? Big feet? Clown shoes? Boat shoes? Small ankles? Short pants? Part of a larger picture? Nothing spectacular?
Whatever your response is, you are correct. That’s your view. It’s what you see. Yet, what you see might not reflect how the wearer of the shoe felt, or even the reality of that moment. Bear that in mind as we consider today’s Holy Nougat
“We destroy every proud obstacle that keeps people from knowing God. We capture their rebellious thoughts and teach them to obey Christ.” 2 Corinthians 10:5 NLT
In one sense the reality behind the picture captures the essence of the nougat. We were out bowling. This was the second pair of shoes I tried as the first was a bit large. I felt super conscious of how big my feet were and how large they seemed in those shoes. But I wore them because they represent official bowling shoes. The thing is – all the correct shoes in the world did not improve my chances of winning. I lost (as usual). And I lost because I KNEW I would. Even before we arrived I had already accepted defeat.
Nothing was wrong with the shoes; it was my mindset that needed changing. For, even had I been skilled and wearing shoes that seemed to be my size, once I had given defeat residence in my mind, winning was almost impossible.
And so it is with many life situations we face. We see all the obstacles, problems, bits of reality and impossibilities that can prohibit our plans, and often fail to see God In or Behind them. Yet, for several issues that others see as impossible, in faith (perhaps even blind faith), we carry on and all is well.
Perhaps then, it’s time for a reset.
Perhaps before we rush to decide for ourselves whether we are capable; we ought to prayerfully discern what God says. And when God gives the go ahead, we might find (like Moses did in Exodus 3) that God’s Grace surpasses ALL vain imaginations and obstacles in the path to success.
And, having experienced the blessings and power that come from God in our impossible situations; we may find that the vain imagination we had conjured about God disappear. We also may find that our openness to allow ourselves to be under God’s guidance yields other results until we are saying, ‘I can do ALL thing through Christ Who strengthens me’ (see Philippians 4:13).
Are we ready to change our mindsets today? And will we focus them on the One Who is able to keep us from falling (Jude 1:24)? It begins with the thought; but with Christ our impossibilities could become stepping stones for future successes.
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May all we seek be found in Christ
