Pastor Paul’s Blog

The other day I was working out in the yard when I was bothered by something in my eye. I walked inside and began looking intently into the mirror to see if I could discover what it was. It seemed like I was there for a while, in reality it was probably only a matter of seconds, but when I began to pull my face away from the mirror I was startled by a mosquito that had taken up residence on my cheek. I quickly swatted it away. I couldn’t believe that I’d stood there for so long peering into the mirror and didn’t notice this blood sucking insect on my face. I was too intent on the annoyance in my eye.

I must confess that this has happened more than once in my spiritual journey. I’ve concerned myself so much with an annoyance which makes me uncomfortable, such as my preference for worship or how I think the Lord should solve a problem, that I’ve not noticed the devil himself launching an attack on my soul.    I Peter 5:8 tells us that he “prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.”

I think part of the problem is that we, in our humanness don’t see ourselves as God does. Paul tells us in I Corinthians 13:12 that “we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror.” Only God himself can reveal to us those things in our heart and life that need attention. The Psalmist writes in Psalm 139:23-24 “Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.”

Lord, help me when I get distracted in my spiritual journey, by temporal things, to look to you, the author and perfecter of my faith, that you may shine your light of love on my soul revealing those thoughts, attitudes and actions which are not pleasing to you.