Breaking Through

Intuition is a gift that the Lord gave me at birth, however it is one that I have only most recently began to celebrate.  That mysterious little N hidden in my Myer’s Briggs analysis (INFJ) has often left me feeling misunderstood and confused among friends, family and peers.  It is amazing though what awareness and also community can do for one.  God brought me into a community of people that not only rejoice in differences, but also taught about them.  In the past several months I have learned and event studied my overall personality type and discovered many of the reasons I have often felt frustrated.  I learned that I see the world a bit differently and I respond much more on the premise of faith and feeling.  You see, I became self aware.  I saw the gift I had been given by the Lord at birth however until most recently I never recognized it for what it was.    

I wonder how many other gifts, talents, strengths and opportunities pass us by everyday unnoticed or unquestioned?  Many of us go so far as to even curse the very gifts we have because we aren't aware of their purposes, plans or intentions in our lives.  We may even hide our talents because we don’t understand them; much less know how to use them.  In the fullness of His time (Galatians 4:4), God brought me the knowledge I needed to grow.  Most importantly in that He brought me a revelation of His character and beauty as a Creator.  The knowledge of my own uniqueness was a gift in of itself because it drew me closer to the heart of my Father.  In many ways this isn't a break through but was rather another story or testament of El Roi breaking through into the life of His child.  He has always known and saw the girl He created over thirty years ago, but there was an appointed time (Habakkuk 2:3) for this lesson.  In finding a new piece of me, I found a little more of Jesus.

I wonder what the Lord is teaching you?  What is He showing you today?  Remember He is there.  His eyes see (Psalm 11:4) and He is aware of where you are.  Let Him break through in your life today.  You Father wants you to learn more about yourself and your relationships, but most importantly He wants you to know Him.

I love this song here by Audrey Assad.  It harmonizes some of these thoughts in a way my prose never will.        

El Roi: The God Who Sees

How does one really come to know someone ?  Does there come a moment where we can say we are fully known and understood?  I believe many of us pick up that thought without the reality or excitement of realizing such depth of understanding is beyond our human capacity.  Even with my closest friends and relatives there will always be experiences, reactions and memories that I will never have access to.  The depth of such possibility should motivate us in our relationships and draw us further down the pathways of life with those we love.  To know and be known... to be in relationship.  That is the stuff of life.

Since coming to know the Lord I have learned that there is only one who truly "knows the way that I take" Job 23:10.  My creator, redeemer and keeper.  He not only made me (Psalm 139:14), but he cared enough for me to redeem me (Ephesians 2:8) and give me a hope and future with Him (Jeremiah 29:11).  He is not distant or detached.  What He created he continues to guide, invest and prepare for. He is the God who knows and sees me.  El Roi is one of my favorite Hebrew names for God.  In Genesis 16 this is the name that Hagar uses in reference to God, who saw her affliction.  For Hagar it meant that God saw her in her hurt and devastation.  One translation shares that it was after God saw her that she really began to recognize God.  

Genesis 16:13:  The Message

She answered GOD by name, praying to the God who spoke to her, "You're the God who sees me!  "Yes!  He saw me; and then I saw him!"  

I have always been one to get lost in the big picture and so this story speaks to me.  Isn't Hagar's story, her reality, just like yours and mine?  Haven't we also had an irresistible encounter with God where He saw our condition and bridged the gap to come into our lives.  Yes, there was a moment where "I saw him" and began to see His character, His ways and His heart.  He is the God who sees.  

So I wonder, have you have taken the time to really "see" those around you today?  I read this and am challenged to be intentional with my gaze and focus.  Not only am I to study the face and character of my God, but I am also called to love what He has loved and created:  those around me.  As a bearer of His image I have been given eyes for a purpose and I have been given a longing to be known for a reason.  There are none that are invisible.  Perhaps today it might be my gaze, my intent or even my attachment that might reflect or lead someone to my God.

Keep your eyes open.  See.  There is not only a God who sees you... but He has also blessed you with the beautiful gift of vision.