The Lens of Grace

As I was praying before bed a few nights ago, a phrase came out of my mouth that I didn't expect. I had been struggling with some attitudes and things that I didn't feel too good about and was basically trying to "ask for forgiveness" and "ask for strength", etc. Instead, I found myself saying "You have forgiven me. Help me to grow into the person you already believe me to be." I was stunned. I just sat there for a few minutes, then I surprised myself again by saying, "Help me to learn to see others the same way that you see me." I know that I've heard and read stuff like this before, but it had never really come together like that for me before. Grace is a lens that God chooses to view me through. He sees my life and my character through this lens that somehow refracts the light in such a way that all he can see is Christ in me. He then encourages me and helps me to become the person he already sees me as...the person he keeps insisting I already am. While I see evidence all around me and in me to the contrary, God adamantly maintains that the way he sees it is the actual reality. He gives me the choice of choosing the reality he is calling me into or one that I construct for myself. I choose his. However, as soon as I choose God's reality of Grace, the lenses of Grace must necessarily slip over my eyes as well. I am to reflect what I am given. I am to see as I am seen.

AE