Adjustments for Life

I recently purchased some new eye glasses. Within the first hour of wearing the glasses, I knew the hinge on one side was loose. Because of traveling, it took about 2 weeks before I could go back to my optometrist to get the glasses adjusted. When I walked in, the associate asked what he could do for me. I replied, “I can see great and I love these new glasses, but they need to be adjusted.” He quickly said, “I can see how they are slipping on your nose.” I was surprised he said that because I had gotten so used to dealing with glasses over the years that slipped down that I had no idea they could be adjusted. It is a good thing that I did not realize the problem and try to fix my glasses on my own as "The Best DIY Tips for Slipping Glasses" video suggests! [1]

Fortunately, the skilled associate just tightened the screw on my hinge and adjusted the temples! I expressed my spontaneous amazement that my glasses did not have to slip down on my nose anymore and my gratitude to him for fixing my problems (one I knew could be fixed and one I just lived with). I left and I have enjoyed a life free from constantly pushing my glasses up!  

This reminded me of my spiritual life. There are some sins in my life that I am very aware of and are actively seeking God for transformation. There are other sins that I have just lived with and have no idea that God wants to transform me in those areas. Furthermore, there are some sins that I have no idea that I am committing.

I am grateful that God has left me His written Word, the Bible, where I can daily be exposed to His standards for my life. Hebrews 4:12 states, “For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.” I can deceive myself and miss my sins. However, nothing is hidden from God. I might sense a disruption in my soul, and God’s Word can bring clarity to my disruptions. Moreover, there are sins that I have no idea that I am giving into. An intentional invitation to God to reveal my sins, uncovers areas that I have settled into as a way of life.

Psalm 139:23-24 beautifully puts my heart’s plea into words, “Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!” I need to intentionally ask God to search me and reveal where I fall short of His standards so I can confess my sins to Him and when appropriate, to others. The recognition of the sin and my desperate need for Him to cleanse and transform me progresses my spiritual formation into His Son’s image which I long for. Also, surprisingly, sometimes when I ask God to search my heart, He reveals the good things He is working in me!

As a believer and follower of Jesus Christ, I am on a journey of being transformed into Jesus Christ’s image. Part of the process involves reading and meditating on His Word and intentionally inviting Him to reveal my sins to me. It is not a onetime event; it is a life-time process. I am grateful He has left me His Word and His Spirit to transform me and to reveal to me what is really in my heart!

Receiving an adjustment to the temples of my glasses brought a wonderful physical correction which I previously thought nonexistent. However, the physical correction is no comparison to the received spiritual correction, with all its beauty and wholeness, that progression in my spiritual formation grants as I stay in God’s Word and intentionally ask Him to reveal my sins!

My challenge to myself and to you is to be faithful to read and meditate on God’s Word and be diligent to consistently invite God to search our hearts as we desperately depend on Him to transform us. Spiritual correction is truly amazing!