Daily devotional, October 27, 2023 Magnifying Glass
“The Lord is my light and salvation— whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life— of whom shall I be afraid?” PSALM 27:1
The magnifying glass is an excellent invention, helping people see even minute details of an object they are trying to examine. It can also act as a mini projector, and it can even start a campfire! Depending on the power of the magnifier, anyone can see the finest details and intricate design of even the smallest things.
It is innate for most of us to want to know every detail of things or events we are interested in. We tend to pour our time to examine the object, and study situations that we are curious about. There are times though that we channel this fixation on less productive things to magnify. For instance, we tend to magnify worrisome situations, regrets, and problematic issues that we encounter.
We unconsciously focus on the negatives and tend to expect things to turn out unfavorably for us. And like a magnifying glass used to start a fire, our over-scrutiny of our worries, regrets, and fears can burn us out and turn us into a weary and depressed person.
As Christians, we are urged to refrain from focusing our energy on our problems, especially those things that are beyond our control. In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus tells us that our Heavenly Father knows all our concerns and we need not be anxious of the future:
“So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” Matthew 6:34
In our quest for self-sufficiency we try to solve issues through our own power, instead of ceding total control to the Lord, who is sovereign above all. We over-analyze our concerns and we tend to magnify our problems, instead of magnifying the Lord’s presence in our lives. We forget that we have a Heavenly Father who created the universe and everything in it, whose power is limitless:
"Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen." Ephesians 3:20-21
So how do we magnify the Lord’s presence in our lives? In a practical sense, it is by inviting the Holy Spirit to dwell within us. To invoke God’s spirit to guide us in everything that we do; from the choices we make, tackling matters before us, and carrying out an action plan actually to solve the challenges.
The Holy Spirit dwells among people who abide by the Lord. Those who follow His command and strive to live a blameless life. Persons who intentionally seek the Lord and acknowledge His presence day in and day out:
"And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever—the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you.” John 14:16-17
There is no problem that is too big nor too small for the Lord. Let us magnify His presence in our lives, and minimize the problems that we have. Let us come to Him through daily prayer, bible reading, and weekly worship with fellow believers. Every person has a cross to carry, and God did not promise a life without problems. But if His spirit dwells in us, we can be sure that help is at hand, and that He will not allow us to perish:
"The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance." 2 Peter 3:9
Let us take a cue from Mama Mary who exalted God’s presence in her life instead of focusing on the issues surrounding her sudden pregnancy, betrothal to St. Joseph, and the challenges that await her as she gives birth and face a life of raising our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ:
“And Mary said 'My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,for he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant. From now on all generations will call me blessed,for the Mighty One has done great things for me—holy is his name.' Luke 1:46-49
Whatever situation we find ourselves in, let us choose to focus on the truth that our Lord is almighty and sovereign. That He has our whole lives planned way before we have been formed in the wombs of our mothers. That He is in total control of everything, and that there is nothing impossible for Him.
Thank you for reading through our devotional today. I invite you to ponder on Luke 1:46-55 and 2 Cor 12:6-10, to dig deeper on today’s topic.
Reflection Question: What do you magnify in your life? Are you choosing to magnify your problems or the Lord’s sovereignty and grace?
Conversation with the Lord: Heavenly Father, I praise and thank you for being the Sovereign God that you are. For Lording over everything in this universe, and for ordaining all my days. Teach me to truly trust in you and magnify your presence in my life. I want to surrender all my cares and fears to you, because you are omnipotent and you are my savior and redeemer. Help me overcome my anxieties and worries and enjoy your peace and mercy, amen.