Ways To Give

Yep, Two Ways About It

Written by Nancy O’Bosky

Are you tired of going your own way? Watch this video to learn more about living a Spirit-filled life.

“You have seen many things, but have paid no attention; your ears are open, but you hear nothing” (Isaiah 42:20, NIV).

Have you heard the old saying, no two ways about it?  Well, I beg to differ if you’ll allow me.

A few weeks ago, my five year old grandson and I were down at our little brook enjoying a beautiful early summer afternoon.  All at once, he shrieked, “Ants!  I hate ants!” And he turned and began stomping up the hill.

“Wait, a minute,” this old grandma called to him.  “Sit here with me and let’s just watch them for a minute.  Look how they work together, how they form a trail and take food back to their whole family. They work and don’t tire. They are always so busy and eager!”  As my grandson took time to listen to me and consider my words and turn his attention to my way of thinking, he began to see the ants with new eyes — eyes of wonder instead of eyes of hate and disgust.

Aren’t we a lot like that? Don’t we often see situations with just our own eyes and our own selfish motivations and beliefs? We need new eyes to really see all of God’s truth for us.  We need an understanding of God’s purpose to grasp how to look at a situation without panic, disgust or even fear.  In every circumstance, in every thought and feeling where we deem that there is only one way — our way — there are always two ways about it.  There is our way and there is God’s way.

In each circumstance I find myself in, I am learning to practice seeing it with “God’s eyes and hands” instead of only my own.  When I determine to do that, I am choosing God’s way and putting Him first.  This is one way that I can love the Lord with all my heart, by putting His way, His will and His law first in my life.

You might be wondering, “How do I begin to place God’s way first in my life?”  Do you remember my grandson and his disgust of ants?  What did he have to do to begin to look at them in a different way?

First he had to listen. Are you listening to God’s Word?  Then he had to believe what his grandma told him.  Do you believe the truths that God is sharing in His Word with you?  And lastly, he had to give up his way of thinking and be willing to see ants from his grandma’s perspective.  Have you begun to look at every situation with God’s eyes and heart and His will and way?

Today, choose to listen, to believe, to apply a willing heart to God’s perspective. Take time today and open your eyes, pay attention, be willing to hear and to change your way to God’s way.

Yep, two ways about it — your way or God’s way.

Lord, I lay down myself and yield all of me to You, Your hand, Your truths and Your will and way in my life.  Thank You that Your power is great enough to do miraculous work in my life.  Your love is of greater measure than I can hope or dream or imagine.  Help me Lord to begin to see with new eyes more of who You are.  Give me greater understanding of Your way.  Help me to walk in Your truth this day with a whole heart and new eyes of perspective.

Questions: What area do you need to work on in order to put God’s way first in your life? (listening, believing, change perspectives)  How are you putting God first in your life?

About the Author Nancy O’Bosky

Daily audio podcast: A second daily devotional, Thin Air-ogance, today on the Men’s Devotional Blog

Tags: Ants, believe, circumstance, fear, God, grandma, grandson, listen, motivations, Nancy O'Bosky, selfish

2 Responses to “Yep, Two Ways About It”

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• Brenda Davidson says:

  August 24, 2009 at 2:56 pm

  Thank you for the devotional from Nancy O’Bosky, “Yep, Two ways about it.” I need new eyes to see a situation in my life that just happened. Our 33 year old son-in-law C.J. Willey was killed while jogging, Aug. 15. He has a six year old son, Brent and 3 year old daughter Addison. My heart is breaking for the loss of a wonderful father to my grand- children and husband to my daughter, Lacy. It is so hard to understand and at this point, we are still in shock. When my grandson Brent begins to ask why Nannie, I want to be able to tell him God understands we are sad and we believe that He is the only one that knows the whys but we trust God to help us. I want to be able to look at my grandchildren and and see God’s perspective. I pray I will have look at each situation with God’s eyes, His truth and a willing heart .

  A grieving Grandmother in Texas,
  Brenda Davidson
• lobolady says:

  August 16, 2009 at 2:54 pm

  That is what this healthcare debate is starting to be. A test for Us as a nation to do what is right by Gods standards or by Our standards. According to Gods standards We are to be Our Brothers keeper, take care of the least amongst Us and give with a cheerful heart. I get $606. a month disability to live on; out of that I’m paying a $300. mortgage payment mo. and would gladly pay extra taxes on items I bought that are considered unhealthy. Or let them deduct a set amount every month. W e as a Country were established for freedom of Religion and we have fallen so far away from what God expects of Us that in Our selfishness, We would denie Healthcare to ALL. We need that public option and to change Our ways as a nation if we want to continue receiving the Blessings that we have from God

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