Many decisions in life require guidance and wise council. Let’s look at what I call the three W’s. The first is the Word of God. Here we find God’s will in general and many applicable truths. The second is the Witness of the Holy Spirit. This still small voice confirms the direction found in the Word of God and by other sources but never contrary to the Word of God. The third is the Works of Providence. This involves the stops, open doors, various other circumstances, and the council of others.

If we desire the perfect will of God for our lives, we must trade the following. Self-Sufficiency for our Faith in God, Self-Will for Submission to God, Self-Seeking for Honoring God and lastly Self-Righteousness for Humility before God. Just remember in all thy ways acknowledge Him and He shall direct our paths.

II Corinthians 4:16-18, “For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us an far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.”

It has been said if your treasures are on this Earth, each day you are moving further away from them but if you treasures are in Heaven, each day you are moving closer to them.

Matthew 6:19-21, “Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.”

I believe we can see the big picture by slowing down, backing up, looking around and by moving forward.

First, we need to slow down.

James 4:14, “Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and vanisheth away.”

Sometimes we need to talk to ourselves and say, “so what, big deal, what difference does it make and what is the hurry?” We need to take time to take a walk, talk with a child, pick some daisies, and smell some roses. This will help us to see the big picture.

Secondly, we need to back up a bit. They say it’s hard to see the forest for the trees. A survey was given to see what our elderly generation would have done differently had they had the opportunity to live their lives all over again. The number one choice was to reflect more on their life and to retrace often precious memories.

Proverbs 10:7a, “The memory of the just is blessed.”

The big picture keeps getting bigger the longer we live. Thirdly, we need to look around. Looking back, we see that detour in life led us exactly to where God wanted us to be. A lot of different snap shots make up the big picture. Looking ahead believing is seeing. We can see things others can’t by our faith and trust in God. By faith Abraham had this testimony found in, Hebrews 11:10, “For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.”

We see more and more of the big picture as we journey by faith.

Lastly, we must move forward. We can visit the past, but we can’t live there. Always keeping in mind, the big picture.

I Peter 4:2, “That he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lust of men, but to the will of God.”

Over a lifetime we should focus on the most important aspects of life. Bringing into focus a clear picture.

Let’s look at it, enjoy its pleasantries, live in it to the fullest extent and by faith see what others can’t see, the big picture.

We only go around once in life. Let’s don’t spin our wheels on the non-essentials of life but rather focus on what really is important.

Anchor Baptist Church

456 Jamison Rd.

Washington Court House, Ohio

740-333-7777