Tunnel Vision

I remember a select group of girls that hung together in high school, and most of them, but not all, would walk the campus like they were really somebody.  They seemingly looked down on their peers that were not in the ‘in crowd’.  I called them white shoes.

Some of these high society elites, as they saw themselves, thought they were better than the next person and would probably drown if it were to rain, because their nose was always up in the air, figuratively speaking.  They had one thing in mind, and one thing only…popularity.  That was my perception of them.

Yes, these girls were attractive, dressed in the latest fashions, and very popular, but they could not see a need in someone else’s life if that person were standing directly in front of them or on either side, because of social blinders that they wore.  As far as awareness goes, it was all about them and the attention they craved.

Again, this is how I perceived some of them.  There were a few that were sweet and down to earth.  Sadly, there were those that could only relate to their circle of friends and their world of self-glorifying rhetoric that enriched their image.

Now that I am way beyond those high school days, I look around and it seems as if I’m back in high school once again.  People are enamored with themselves and cannot see the needs of others, though the needs are many.

They walk around with tunnel vision.  It’s like they, too, are wearing blinders.  Their immediate world is centered around themselves, while others struggle to make ends meet. 

To bring it closer to home, Christians can be just as uncaring and not see the spiritual want of others, because they lack confidence in their God-given abilities that they were empowered with the moment they became born-again Believers.

Abilities?  What abilities?  I am referring to the nine Gifts of the Holy Spirit, spoken of in the Bible.

(1 Corinthians 12:7-11), “But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all:” (vs 8) “for to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another the word of knowledge through the same Spirit,” (vs 9) “to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healings by the same Spirit,” (vs 10) “to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another discerning of spirits, to another different kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues.” (vs 11) “But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills.”  

Some Christians fail to recognize the power that is invested in them as children of God.  This power is absolutely associated with the name of Jesus, the name above all names and personage that God blessed His children with.  In the following, Jesus is speaking.

(John 14:12-14), “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father.”  (vs 13) “And whatever you ask in my name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.”  (vs 14) “if you ask anything in My name, I will do it.”

I certainly understand the difficulty of stepping out in faith to ask a stranger that you’ve never met if you could pray for their need when you observe them struggling to walk or other obvious ailments that you notice.

When a Christian fails to act on the empathy they are feeling, no doubt they are taking personal responsibility of which direction the results of the prayer may go.  No one wants to leave themselves open to criticism or embarrassment in an awkward situation should the person not be healed or set free from oppressive spirits.

Let’s face it, Christians do not heal, God does.  They are the conduit that God uses to bring about His will in the lives of others.  Christians should let Him worry about the embarrassment if He chooses not to heal or set a person free for whatever reason.

It is sad how selfish and out of touch with faith a Christian can become when they allow fear of embarrassment to rule their obedience to God or lack thereof, thus preventing a miracle from taking place.  Believers need to move with confidence and in faith, believing that God not only hears their prayer, but will answer, because the Bible says that Believers need only to ask and then receive.

This is the power I am talking about—the name of Jesus.  He is omnipotent.  When Christians pray, they need to believe that God is a miracle working God.  Just think, if a prayer isn’t provided, perhaps the person in need may be deprived of their miracle.

Speaking from experience, I am sure, too often, fear enters in and the one having the power within to speak healing or words of encouragement, sometimes steps away and thinks to themselves, “Oh well.  At least I wasn’t embarrassed if God didn’t answer.” 

This thinking, or to put it bluntly, this excuse is certainly not the attitude to have, but how many Christians allow fear to overshadow the Gifts of the Holy Spirit that is within them?  Their lack of faith in God to move on someone’s behalf is speculating that He probably wouldn’t have moved anyway.  This is sad.

I remember on Sunday evening; while sitting in a church service, I had a strong urge to go lay my hands on an individual that I had never met, and pray for him.  The moment I suppressed the feeling and didn’t move, someone else in front of me stood, went over to the person, laid hands on them and prayed.  Both individuals were touched by God.

It was an eye-opening experience.  God’s work is going to be done with or without my help.  Blessings come when I yield to the Spirit and become God’s hand extended or His vocal cords sharing words of encouragement with someone.  It is wonderful to be part of a miracle when I obey the prompting of God and do what He is asking me to do.

I am learning the more I yield to the Spirit and do His will the easier it becomes, especially when I see the results of my obedience.  Even though I may not see an immediate outcome, I am confident that God is working and assured that I did what He asked me to do.

I am also learning to shove fear aside and resist the devil, while I trust God rather than personalizing the healing process.  It is refreshing to feel at peace, knowing that God has everything in control.  Tunnel vision fades and the blinders on my eyes disappear.  Obedience draws me closer to Almighty God.

(James 4:7-8), “Therefore submit to God.  Resist the devil and he will flee from you.” (vs 8) “Draw near to God and He will draw near to you…”

Written by,

Papa Boyd