IF
YOU CAN SEE IT…YOU CAN BE IT! (Part I)
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 added bright colors to the homeless man’s face. As the
brilliant hues of oil paint were brushed skillfully on 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 in
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 in the same manner that the artist conceptualized that humble beggar. For 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 ARE 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. After you finish reading this paragraph, close your
eyes for one moment. Try not to think of today’s duties or demands. Just think about YOU. 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, 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. Close your eyes and SEE THAT GOD-CREATED PERSON…right now…
My friend, what did
you see with your eyes closed? You might have difficulty VISUALIZING
YOURSELF through THE EYES OF GOD, so to speak. It may seem impossible
to SEE THAT BLESSED AND BEST YOU since
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 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,
please repeat 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!”
In the world of
computer technology, there is a familiar adage: ‘Garbage in…garbage out.’
This means that if erroneous information 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
designed and you have allowed to be programmed on the emotional computer of
your life! I now speak 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 whether
you appear to be hapless, helpless, hopeless, or homeless in the moment that YOUR TRUE IMAGE is manifested
and revealed. As 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
whatever, wherever, 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!
No comments:
Post a Comment