What Am I Beholding?

​It’s human nature to be heavily influenced by what we pay attention to. Growing up in the 90s era, I understand this all too well. One early morning, my dad took me to breakfast for a very important talk. With worried eyes he cautiously voiced that he was afraid I was going to lose my long hair because of my daily ritual of aerosol hairspray and furious ratting.
 
He clearly did not understand this was necessary in order to achieve the much envied tall bangs that could be seen from behind. He was coming up against a force to be reckoned with because I had intently studied the upperclassmen, and the only conclusion I had come to was that I needed to figure out how to get my big bangs even bigger. As the story goes, he had to gut the bathroom after I left home because of the hairspray buildup. (That’s what half a can of Aquanet sprayed daily in a small bathroom does to a place.) My style was definitely more influenced by what I saw than common sense.

​As it turns out, God created us to be reflections of who we spend time with and what we turn our attention to. We were designed for intimacy with Him, and intended to reflect His goodness and grace.
 
I Corinthians 3:18 says, “And we all with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into His image with ever increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.”
 
According to the Merriam Webster Dictionary, to contemplate something means “to think carefully or deeply about something.”
 
The surest way to any transformation is the way we think. We can be transformed for the better or for the worse depending on who or what we contemplate.
 
How often do we contemplate...
The “what ifs” and worst-case scenarios and become filled with anxiety?
How we’ve been wronged and find ourselves bitter and filled with unforgiveness?
Everything our marriage is not and find our marriage degrading into further turmoil?
How we’ve messed up with our kids and fallen into further burdensome shame?
On what others have (or have not) in comparison to us and become envious or prideful?
 
The truth is, we become like who or what we behold. The surest way to become who God originally created us to be is to spend our time looking in the right direction. When we look to Him, our perspective begins to change to what is true. When we look at the wrong things, we begin to believe lies rather than truth (much like what happened with my hair situation.)
 
What if, instead of the negative, we began to contemplate…
God who is with us no matter what life holds for us?
God who loves us, defines who we are, and is the defender of our hearts?
God who fights with us for the good and restoration of relationships?
God who is our Forgiver and the Lifter of our heads?
God who is the One who loves to satisfy us with Himself and teaches us to walk in humility?
 
As Christ-followers, we should be becoming a little more like Jesus each day. Today, take special notice of what your mind is focusing on. Are they thoughts of comparison, shame, or pride? Or are they thoughts towards Jesus, His truth, His perfection, and His glory?
 
If we begin to find ourselves wandering towards old ways of thinking, let’s turn our focus back and contemplate the God Who is with us, fighting for us and bigger than any situation we could ever face.
 

About the Author

Hi! I'm Wendy Gerdes and I live in Omaha, Nebraska with my family. John and I have been married for twenty years and we have three teens plus a twelve year old who keep us busy. I always say every stage is my favorite, but this stage really IS my favorite! On a quiet day, I can usually be found reading or writing. Hiking, traveling, and spending time with family and friends are also favorite pastimes. I am most passionate about learning and writing about God's heart for us. When we begin to see his heart for us and towards us, it changes everything! Connect with Wendy at www.wendygerdes.wordpress.com

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