Consider This: Seeing New Patterns

“1N73LLIG3NC3 15 7H3 4BILI7Y 70 4D4P4P7 70 CH4NG3.”

Isn’t that something? You can read that phrase even though there is not one English word in it. Your brain is trained to look for patterns, and because it knows what English words and syntax look like, it adapts what you see to make it make sense.

Your brain does not see what is there. Rather, your brain sees what you have trained it to see and reacts accordingly. The same rainstorm that makes a farmer happy makes a golfer mad. Therefore, it is important to train our brains well. Here are two truths that will help.

First, God is in control. While life may feel chaotic and random, scripture reminds us that this is untrue. “The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged” (Deuteronomy 31:8). The twenty-third Psalm says, “The Lord is my shepherd… he leads me…. He guides me… He restores my soul”. We may not understand why we are going through what we are going through, but we can know this: God is in it and with us.

Second, God is providing. “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father” (James 1:17). We have been entrusted with blessings. Therefore, since God has been generous to me, I ought to be generous with others. What I have been given is not mine in the first place! As Jesus encouraged, “Freely you have received; freely give!” (Matthew 10:8).

When I train my mind to remember that God is in control and is providing what I need, I see those patterns everywhere and meet each new day differently.

Someone once said, “Daniel slept in a lion’s den. Peter slept in prison. Jesus slept in a storm. No matter your circumstances, you can find peace and rest when you remember that God is with you”.

Practice seeing that pattern.

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