As was his custom, a homeless man slept on the sidewalk
across the street from an artist’s studio. One morning, the neighboring
artist sketched the face of this poor soul who for years had experienced the
humbling indignities of living outdoors and begging for bread. After his
initial sketch was completed, the artist began to add bright colors to the
homeless man’s face. As the brilliant hues of oil paint were brushed
skillfully across the canvas, the overall image of this destitute soul began to
transform dramatically. The artist brightened the man’s unwashed skin and
gave his eyes a look of fierce determination and strength. Finally, he
artistically ‘brushed’ the poor man’s clumpy and unkempt hair, giving him a
polished and regal appearance.
When the painting was completed, the artist called the
indigent man to view his work of art. The homeless man was hesitant and
fearful because he had never been summoned to the studio and did not know what
to expect. As you might imagine, the invited beggar did not immediately
recognize himself. “Who is this?” he whispered in subdued tones.
The proud artist only smiled. Coming closer to the painting, the
man had a growing realization that there was something vaguely familiar about
the image caught on canvass. “Is this…ME?” he finally asked. “Could
this possibly be a painting of ME?” The artist replied “Yes, this is how
I see you.” After a few moments, that beggar squared his shoulders, stood
significantly taller than he had in years, and announced proudly, “If this is
the person you SEE…then that is the person I will BE!”
My friend, If you can see it…you can be it!
Our Creator looks upon you and I in the same manner that
the artist viewed and conceptualized the humble beggar. Whenever God
considers us, He never focuses on the obvious: our faults, failures, foibles
and fiascoes. El Shaddai, The All-Sufficient One, The Alpha and Omega,
The Designer of the Universe, SEES US
for who we were ultimately INTENDED TO BE in the sovereign
Mind and Will of Almighty God. Wow…chew on that for a moment!
Here is a powerful exercise you can try right now.
After you finish reading this paragraph, close your eyes for a moment.
Try not to think of today’s duties or demands…think about YOU…for just
one moment. Don’t think about your past. Don’t consider your
present condition and circumstances. For just one moment, TRY TO SEE
YOU…AS GOD SEES YOU…on the DAY OF YOUR BIRTH…your very first moments on Planet
Earth. Incidentally, the God who is “the same yesterday, today and forever,”
sees you that way still! (Hebrews 13:8) It is likely that you had little
or no issues on the day of your birth, or at least no awareness of any deficits
or deficiencies. In the months that followed, you smiled and laughed,
freely and frequently, for scarcely any reason at all. You were carefree,
joyful, overflowing with energy and full of expectation about everything that
was and would be. C lose your eyes and SEE that GOD-CREATED PERSON…right now…
My friend, WHAT did you see with your eyes closed?
WHO did you see? Undoubtedly, some of you might have difficulty
VISUALIZING YOURSELF through THE EYES OF GOD, so to speak. It may seem
impossible to see that BEAUTIFUL AND
BEST YOU – because over time you have been programmed by life
experiences to see ANOTHER YOU.
Perhaps in your childhood, your parents did not sufficiently care for, nurture,
or encourage you. Perhaps others (significant others) chose to highlight
your limitations and losses, your insufficiencies and inabilities.
Maybe you even married someone who lacks the ability to
appreciate or support you. So now – when you see yourself – you only visualize doubt, negativity, failure,
or defeat. If that be the case with you, please say these words after me:
“IT IS RE-PROGRAMMING TIME!” Affirm your ‘image emancipation’ once more,
but this time say it louder and with more enthusiasm: “STARTING TODAY…I WILL
RE-PROGRAM MYSELF…AND I WILL SEE MYSELF AS GOD SEES ME…BECAUSE IF I CAN SEE
IT…I CAN BE IT! AMEN! AMEN! AMEN!”
In the world of computer technology, there is a familiar adage:
‘Garbage in…garbage out.’ This means that if ‘erroneous stuff’ is somehow
programmed into your computer software, your eventual output will be useless.
‘JUNK IN…JUNK OUT!’ Whether you realize it or not, YOU CAN rise
above the MENTAL AND SPIRITUAL SOFTWARE that OTHERS have licensed and YOU have
allowed to be programmed onto the emotional computer of your life! I have
a vital announcement to make, and I am now speaking with spiritual authority to
your future: “IT IS RE-PROGRAMMING TIME!”
Never forget this simple truth: ALMIGHTY GOD IS THE
CREATIVE ARTIST OF YOUR ETERNAL EXISTENCE – AND HIS ORIGINAL PORTRAIT OF YOU IS
EXCEPTIONALLY BOLD, BRIGHT AND BEAUTIFUL!
It does not matter at all whether you appear to be hapless,
helpless, or homeless at the moment your TRUE
IMAGE is manifested and revealed to you. As Presiding Bishop
Charles Edward Blake says so often, “I see you in your future…and you look much
better than you do today!” So get up from wherever, whatever, or however
you seem to be…and declare with all the faith you can muster: “IF I CAN SEE
IT…I CAN BE IT!” Stay tuned…more to come
tomorrow.
Sisters and brothers, be continually blessed, and please
(above all else) MAKE SURE YOU ARE READY TO MEET OUR SOON COMING KING.
Maranatha!
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