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SOUL GAZING

 In modern days Christianity is filled with busyness. Church programs and activities can saturate a member throughout the week. Is the Christian faith all about being busy?

What about time to gaze at the Lord in adoration. Faith and looking at the Lord are in unison. Believing is done with the heart and so gazing upon the Lord is a way of faith coming from the soul.

In a Monastery, we think of monks and nuns just sitting and gazing at icons all day long. But their day is like ours in that there are jobs to be done but they make it intentional to set aside some time throughout their day to gaze at the Lord. Now gazing is not to mean a blank stare or being in some hypnotic state. But engaging our thoughts toward God in a prayerful attitude of contemplation.

When we are looking up at the Lord you can be sure His kind eyes are looking back at us. When we direct our eyes upon the Savior then our eyes are no longer focused on ourselves. Sin wants us to cast our gaze inward to ourselves which then twists our souls out of sync with the will of God for our lives.

The beauty of soul gazing is that it can be done anywhere at any time. You do not need to be in a special building, you do not need to wait for a special holy day, and you do not need any religious paraphernalia. You just need the heartfelt desire to look upon your loving Savior. If you make time for this it will cleanse your soul and purify your understanding of your relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ. It will give you a more focused direction in your life which will give you a more sanctified spiritual life.

Hebrews 12:2

looking to Jesus the pioneer and perfecter of our faith, who for the sake of the joy that was set before him endured the cross, disregarding its shame, and has taken his seat at the right hand of the throne of God.







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