Window Pain

[Gene C Blankenship]

The windows in our living room don’t have curtains or blinds over them and they have no panes separating little squares in the glass either. Just long tall windows that look out on to green pastures and mountains. During the day the light streams through the windows and brightens the entire house. At night when the moon is full the light falls through a small window on the eve of the roof. It’s one of my favorite things about our home. We’ve watched our horses grazing and playing across the field and the sky ablaze from an evening sunset. I’ve seen hawks fly by as they approach the tops of the pine trees, watched the leaves change colors as if on an artist’s palette, and we have looked out across our pastures from the warmth of our home as the snow fell creating a winter scene unlike any painting could replicate. In the spring and fall they are opened and allow a cool mountain breeze to circulate through the house and in the summer and winter they keep out the extremes of the heat and bitter cold all the while providing a comfortable and scenic environment. All viewed through windows.

Malachi 3:10b Put me to the test and you will see that I will open the windows of heaven and pour out on you in abundance all kinds of good things.

The other day my Suzanne and I were talking about some of the goals we had to accomplish over the next few months. Some of these issues were creating some stress so she was telling me her thoughts on accomplishing the tasks at hand. She said something that really caught me by surprise. She described her conversation with God as a window in which she was giving Him access to a specific issue. I had never heard anyone put it quite like that before. She was speaking to God about all manner of things, not just wants and needs, though speaking to the Father and putting her requests and praises each in the form of a window for Him to view. It made me think about the way we see ourselves in Gods eyes. Have you ever heard the saying, “It’s not what you think about me that matters, rather, it’s what I think you think about me that matters.” Perception is everything.

In your prayer time allow me to suggest this. Instead of heaping a mass of requests to God put some thought into your prayer. Do you thank Him for being the Lord of your life? Do you humble yourself and confess your sins before Him? Do you ask for His will to be done in your life and answer your prayers according to His plan for you? Do you keep His commands? These are the windows from which the Father sees you. It’s a fact, you cannot hide from God. Even with the blinds drawn and the shades pulled shut your heavenly Father knows something isn’t right. With so many issues in our lives today it is easy to become overwhelmed and discouraged. So take time and pray specifically with your heavenly Father. Give Him an invitation to look inside the windows of your life. You must allow Him access, invite Him in.

In order to be blessed you must give to Gods work. Be a blessing to a ministry with your gifts and in turn your Father will bless you.

Malachi 3:7 Return to me, and I will return to you, says the LORD of hosts.