Topic: Gaze at God for Peace-filled, Positive Thoughts. - Discover the Book by Dr John Barnett 7 february 2023

Topic: Gaze at God for Peace-filled, Positive Thoughts. – Discover the Book by Dr John Barnett 7 february 2023

Gaze at God for Peace-filled, Positive Thoughts.
By Meg Bucher

“Later that same day Jesus left the house and sat beside the lake.” Matthew 13:1 NLT

The solution to positive thinking hit me during prayer one morning as I struggled to believe for good outcomes in various areas of my life. Filled with skepticism because of failed attempts and fresh wounds, positive thinking wasn’t my current default. “Positive thinking = thinking about God,” the Holy Spirit pressed upon my heart. Thinking about God has become a natural by-product of the way I live. Yet, I rushed by thoughts of Him to the solutions I was seeking, forgetting He is enough. All of the things we think about pale in comparison to who He is. Meditating on Him alone ushers in the peace and positivity we seek in life. It isn’t the problems being solved or the provision He so faithfully gives …it’s Him.

This verse in Matthew today details what Jesus was doing. He went to sit beside the lake. This would have been the Sea of Galilee. Perhaps living in a lake town provides me with some insight to the peace simply sitting by the lake provides. Especially on a day when the sunrise splinters a calm lake into a million fractions of the same prism of colors. The incredible nature of God’s creation points back to Him. Sitting by the lake, Jesus prepared to teach the crowds which had gathered. Matthew continues,

“A large crowd soon gathered around him, so he got into a boat. Then he sat there and taught as the people stood on the shore.” Matthew 13:2-3 NLT

If I were in such a crowd, my gaze surely would have drifted across the scenery, magnifying the words of the One True God being spoken on earth! What an unimaginable scene and experience to hear Jesus teach and tell stories from a boat on the lake. The ESV Study Bible explains, “Sitting was the typical posture for teachers. According to tradition, this teaching took place at the ‘Cove of the Parables,’ a natural horseshoe-shaped amphitheater. The sound of Jesus’ voice would have carried over 300 feet from the boat to a crowd of hundreds on the shore.” Jesus situated Himself perfectly so the people could hear Him, even if they couldn’t see Him.

Intersecting Faith and Life

Then Jesus’ told him, ‘You believe because you have seen me. Blessed are those who believe without seeing me.’” John 20:29 NLT

A peace-filled, positive thought life blooms from meditating on His words. Even in admiring God’s creation, we are meditating on the creation of the Creator, and the Word was with God while He created it. Imagine what the actual physical presence of Jesus must have felt like for the disciples. We experience His presence poignantly throughout our days but still cannot physically hug, high-five or laugh with Him. “Blessed are they who believe without seeing me.” There’s a positive thought for us …Jesus is speaking of us in this verse. We believe without seeing Him, and so we are blessed!

Scripture tells us to keep our thoughts aligned with the Truth of God. Paul wrote to the Corinthians,

“We destroy every proud obstacle that keeps people from knowing God. We capture their rebellious thoughts and teach them to obey Christ.” (2 Corinthians 10:5 NLT)

Every is a tall order, but also an encouraging promise. We can lead every thought to Jesus. He is the Word. When we gaze across the lake, we can think about Him being there as it was created. When we look in the mirror, we can think about how Jesus died to save that face right there. When we feel lost and alone, we can remember His promise to be with us to the end of the age …always. When we feel powerless, we can remember the Gift Jesus left us as a deposit of our eternal inheritance: the Holy Spirit, living in us.

Sometimes we are tempted to solve our way into positive thinking when the answer so often is to look to Him and stop there. Stay there. “Remain in me,” Jesus said, “and I will remain in you.” (John 15:4 NLT) Peace-filled, positive thinking isn’t something we accomplish but is developed and activated in us as we look to God. He wants the best for us. His plans are good. He loves us. We can wholeheartedly believe and trust for the healings we hope for and problems we seek solutions for. He knows what we need, and He is faithful.

Peace-filled, positive thinking = thinking about God!

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