Half Full or Half Empty

 

I thank my God fin all my remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine for you all making my prayer with joy, because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now. And I am sure of this, that he who began ha good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ. It is right for me to feel this way about you all, because I hold you in my heart, for you are all partakers with me of grace, both min my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel. For God is my witness, how I yearn for you all with the affection of Christ Jesus. And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment, so that you may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God. (Philippians 1:3-11 ESV).

 

Are you a person who sees a half glass of water as half full—or half empty? These are two very different ways of looking at life. Many people that I see in my ministry see God as checking them out in a half-empty-glass sort of way. They have come to see the many character flaws, and fear has often paralyzed them from doing the right thing. They have adopted a survival strategy hiding their heart and pretending they are doing great. The problem is that simply doesn’t work long-term.

 

The truth is that God sees us as a glass half full. He has begun a good work in us! There’s so much to be thankful for! Christ is being formed in us. Even if you are not a Christ-follower, the fact that you are reading this is part of a good work that God is beginning in you! The good work that God has begun in you is like a launchpad filled with hope, commitment, gratitude, and courage to keep on being formed in Christ.

 

Think of yourself as being “under construction.” God is doing good things in you. And God has many more good things that he will do. My encouragement to you is to accept His strength and grace that you may “run with perseverance the race marked out for you, fixing your eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith” (Hebrews 12:1-2). He will guide you and bring you to the joy He has prepared for us in eternity!