Courage To See

WATCH WORD – “Courage To See”
“When we stop opposing reality, action becomes simple, fluid, kind, and fearless.” ~ by Byron Katie
Acceptance of what exists doesn’t mean you necessarily like or agree with it. You’re simply confronting reality without defenses, no need for resistance and avoidance. You get a truer picture that way. You can see what you can do effectively for the better, or what isn’t within your control. And you remain peaceful.
It's one of the hardest things for some of us to do unless you link together the two ideas of “hope” and “truth.”
Truth simply gives you the facts of the matter. Hope gives you a confident expectation of the end. Truth without hope is like “law” without “grace.” Hope without truth is delusional.
Ask any pilot if it's safe to fly without an instrument panel that reflects reality. Or ask a business owner if they can run the business if the bookkeeper can't add or subtract. Numbers are stubborn things. In fact God admonishes us to “number our days” for the express purpose of inclining our hearts toward wisdom.
But truth is only one side of our reality. John put it brilliantly, “The law came through Moses but grace and truth through Jesus Christ.” Notice it's not “grace” or “truth” but grace and truth.
Just 'cause you got a negative diagnosis does not mean that you must bow to the sickness. Just because the profits are gone and the debt is climbing does not mean God can't turn the situation around. Just because the loved one is straying does not mean God can't put things back on course.
You do not need to fear the opposing reality. You can probe it to its depth and come up poised and in possession of your soul because “ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE WITH GOD.”
The “prophetic” realm and the spiritual realm in general can either give you superior penetrating insight or place you into a sustained fantasy world of your own creation. Jesus taught things about decision making we often miss.
“And he said to the vineyard-keeper, ‘Behold, for three years I have come looking for fruit on this fig tree without finding any. Cut it down! … And he answered and said to him, ‘Let it alone, sir, for this year too, until I dig around it and put in fertilizer; and if it bears fruit next year, fine; but if not, cut it down.'” (Lk 13:8)
Every year you circle the unproductive tree is a year of harvest you miss that was waiting on another tree.
Don't be afraid to get the facts and don't be afraid of the facts you get. With the God of all grace, the truth is your friend.
-Lance