I often wake up thinking about how I should look at the day ahead of me and how I want to look at the day ahead of me. For a believer, the should needs to win each day. However, the thorns we see in our path often take over our thoughts and dictate our actions.
Recently reading in John 17, a verse stood out that I had not really dwelled on in the past: “I pray for them [believers]. I am not praying for the world, but for those You have given me, for they are Yours … I will remain in the world no longer, but they are still in the world, and I am coming to You, Holy Father, protect them by the power of Your name, the name You gave Me, so that they may be one as we are one … I have given them Your word and the world has hated them, for they are not of the world any more than I am of the world. My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one … sanctify them by the truth; Your word is truth. As You sent Me into the world, I have sent them into the world.” John 17:9-18
It’s easy to get caught up in the thorns. They sting, they get in the way, they cause pain and frustration, and we just want them gone. But if we keep our heads down, focusing on all the thorns, we won’t get very far in our walk. It’s hard to live in this world and to follow Jesus’ command to go into the world if we are stuck because we’re looking down. But God has given us the Holy Spirit to guide us into all truth, strength because we can do all things through Christ, and His wisdom – all we need to do is ask.
Dear Heavenly Father, we pray that You would please guide us in Your truth, giving us the strength and wisdom we need for what You have for us today, trusting Your plan and keeping our focus on You. Please take every thought captive, making it obedient to Christ and keeping our hearts and minds in line with You and Your word. Thank you for today; it is a gift. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Are we going to look at the thorns, or the Rose?