Capacity and Capability

Man has been created with amazing capabilities. Throughout history, the things that man has been able to accomplish seemingly break the barriers of natural thought.  Man said, “I will fly” and found a way to do so. Man developed ways of combating disease at levels so miniscule as not to be able to be seen with a naked eye. Man has discovered breakthroughs in nano-technology, building things at cellular levels. He is built with a fundamental capacity to create. Man also has capacity to acquire and retain knowledge. He has the ability to process that knowledge in a way that leads to discovery and invention. It is this gift embedded in the heart and mind of man that allows him to accomplish. 

Ironically, it is this same gift (his capacity to attain, and process knowledge) that can also incapacitate man.  As a creative being, man has the potential to see the best of any circumstance.  He also has the ability to see the worst.  Your mind is designed to paint a creative picture of the future. It then has an uncanny knack of traveling in the direction of that painting.  In short, you go in the direction you look.

A number of years ago, I was traveling through the Dallas/Fort Worth, Texas Metroplex. A driver who picked me up at DFW airport gave me one of the scariest rides I have ever been on.  4:30 p.m. is not the happiest

commute time for this region and traffic is fast and heavy.

 This driver insisted on talking to me and, as I was sitting

in the back of the car, kept turning her head to speak.

Every time she turned her head she changed lanes,

oblivious to the traffic. She steered into the

direction she faced.  By nature

it is what we do.

There is an old adage that  

the thing you fear the most comes upon you.  

There is some reality to this in that when you program yourself to expect certain circumstances, you unconsciously begin to create the environment for those circumstances to occur.  For instance, you carry the fear that someone is not going to like or trust you. You contemplate that thought and build upon it until it becomes real in your mind. Soon, every word and action spoken by that individual begins to register in your mind as happening in the way you fear.  Your reaction feeds the process until the situation actually does materialize.  You steer in the direction you look.

For this reason, it is important to pay attention to how you process information.  You need to gain knowledge. You also need to have a true and objective perspective on the knowledge you have. Some people are “glass half full” people. Others are “glass half empty” people. While we mark this up to personality, God doesn’t. He instructs us to be careful in how we choose to view life.  We are supposed to see the glass half full.

Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. Philippians 4:8

This is not saying “paint a rosy picture, however false it may be, and all will be well”. God instructs us to be honest and true – but positively so – or to put it another way, embrace that truth in the best and most positive light.  If something is wrong, focus on the solution that will bring right out of that situation.

It works with relationships, employment, personal development – every aspect of your life. It can make the difference in whether or not you live life at your fullest potential or always choose to avoid the road not taken.  Do not let your mind keep you from being all God created you to be. Bring every thought into captivity and hold onto your knowledge of God, how He created you and how He established you with purpose. How you choose to think will make a huge difference in the outcome of your life.  

Remember what Henry Ford said:

“Whether you think you can or think you can’t, you’re right.”

Time That Moves Faster

Time is moving faster and faster.  I looked up today and realized we are already through the first week in February.  How did that happen? It makes me consider the writing found from the prophet Joel:

“Be glad then you children of Zion, and rejoice in the Lord your Go; for He has given you the former rain faithfully, and He will cause the rain to come down for you – the former rain, and the latter in the first month.” Joel 2:23

The Bible has many references to times and seasons and even offers that there is wisdom to be found in the counsel of those who are discerners of times and seasons.

There are two things you often here.

Time is Money and Knowledge is Power. 

Without even applying biblical application to this it is easy to consider that as knowledge increases; that knowledge infused into time allows for greater productivity. The more productive your time, the more value can be drawn from it. Add to that that the bible tells us that wisdom is the principal thing and instructs us to get wisdom, knowledge and understanding, and learn to steward time correctly. It all adds up to a greater measure of productivity in our lives.

Time is moving faster because life is moving faster. But that also means that the advancement of God’s Kingdom happens faster.

There is great encouragement to be found in Isaiah:

“The sun shall no longer be your light by day, nor for brightness shall the moon give light to you; but the Lord will be an everlasting light, and your God your glory.”

“Your sun shall no longer go down nor shall your moon withdraw itself; for the Lord will be your everlasting light, and the days of your mourning will be ended.”

“Also, your people shall all be righteous; they shall inherit the land forever, the branch of My planting, the work of My hands, that I may be glorified.”

"A little one shall become a thousand, and a small one a strong nation. I the Lord will hasten it in its time.”   Isaiah 60:19-22

Added to natural knowledge is our knowledge of the Holy One. As our intimacy with and knowledge of God increases, the light He offers is what becomes our brightness and sustains us. Our time becomes measured by our relationship with him rather than by the simple turning of night and day. Our mourning wanes because we find ever increasing life in Him.  He hastens this advancement of our lives in His time.

As we increase in our relationship with Him, His rain comes to us in abundance. Our seasons take on different dimension and seemingly run together. Back to the reference in Joel: Our threshing floors become full of wheat (the bread) and our vats overflow with wine (the blood). I other words, our relationship with Him grows stronger and steadfast. Further, God then establishes the restoration of that which the locusts have eaten. This is representative of that which the mindset of our world and situations have devoured in our lives. As we grow in Him, that devouring dissipates and new life begins to grow.

I am developing an appreciation for the faster momentum. For me it is an indication that we are moving in a positive direction. And, I am looking forward to seeing what the former and latter rain combined will produce!