SEEING THE PICTURE
Richard Kruse

            Ten Words totally changed Pierre's life. He remembered the exact time ten years ago when he heard something that changed his way of thinking and living. Until that day he had been struggling through life.  It seemed to him that he was doing everything the hard way. He was discouraged that his life was so difficult. He knew other people who lived life with less effort, less tension, less frustration, less debt. It seemed that he could not successfully complete anything. He thought he could never have what he believed to be a satisfying, abundant, rewarding life. 

            On that special day he was listening to Maurice, a teacher who was talking about dreams, goals and success.  Pierre had listened to many teachers, but it seemed as if nothing worked for him.  Maurice's life-changing statement was simple; he thought he had heard it before.  But this time, Pierre really heard it and he wrote down the ten words.  He read them over and over again.  He couldn't believe it was so basic and simple. Yet the ten words affirm the same basic principle that successful people have been using throughout the ages:  "Things will change when you clearly picture the desired result." It is that simple. Change begins when you clearly picture what you desire the change to look like. 

SOLVING THE PUZZLE

            People who view themselves as failures frequently fail.  Successful people may fail at times - but they do not see themselves as failures.  Maurice pointed out that to be successful, people must know exactly what they want to achieve.  They move toward the pictures they constantly hold in their minds. Therefore, the clearer the picture the better will be the results. This will enable them to go through the trials and tribulations that may be necessary to arrive at their goal.  He used the following example: “Suppose you bought a 1,000-piece jigsaw puzzle with no picture on the box showing what the final result should look like. You could, perhaps assemble the puzzle without the picture. However, it would be a difficult task.  On the other hand those who have a clear picture of what the end result looks like will be more likely to complete the puzzle. The clearer the picture, the greater the desire to complete the puzzle”.

            The people who have a clear and specific picture of the outcome are simply working the way the brain works.  The brain moves people toward the pictures they hold in their mind.    These people (a) clearly know their goal,  (b) begin doing things that lead toward that goal, (c) stop doing things that will not take them to the goal, (d) keep their goal clearly in mind, (e) are attracted to the people and situations that move them closer to the mental picture they keep in mind.

            Maurice continued, “If you wish to make a wooden sculpture of a lotus plant, yet you hold clearly in your mind a picture of the purple grapes, what will be the result?  To make the sculpture out of wood, will you spend your time, money and energy gathering metal or plastic?  Rather, you will focus on finding the best piece of wood. A true artist 'sees' the lotus in the block of wood and then begins to remove everything else that does not look like a lotus”. 

            Pierre began to understand that success comes from knowing what he wants. For things to change, he must have a picture of what he wants them to change to.   If he wished to be successful in school or business, he must begin to picture that success. Then, he will picture himself as a success.  Now he focuses on the actions he must take to complete his journey to success.

            “But remember” Maurice said, “in many ways the journey will be more important than the goal itself, because in the journey you will become the person you must be in order to arrive finally at your goal. Therefore, when you reach your goal, you will see a new person, the person you have become.  Then you can set a new goal so that you can continue to grow and develop.”

            Ten years later, Maurice's words to Pierre continue to ring true: "Things will change when you clearly picture the desired result".
 
SPIRITUAL MATURITY

            Our “desired result” is spiritual maturity.  Our Most Gracious God is willing to help us to achieve it, if we surrender our lives to him and let him lead us.  Remember that for things to change, we must have a picture of what we want them to change to.  As well, the stronger our desires to become spiritually mature, the more likely we will achieve it.

            The Bible, through teaching and examples, helps people develop a picture of spiritual maturity.  Yet, people can learn the facts and doctrines contained in the Bible and not grow spiritually.  Therefore, it is important to study and meditate on the Scripture, allowing a picture of spiritual maturity to develop within us.  It is important to remember that the life-changing story presented in the Bible begins with the picture of a loving God who desires a close relationship with people.  This is the relationship Adam and Eve had with God until sin separated them (Genesis 1-3).  Spiritual maturity is the way for people to develop a closer relationship with God.

            Everyone who wants to grow learns to change.  But what evidences are there that a person has changed?  The book of James urges us to become spiritually mature so that we will not be “like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind” (James 1:6).  He helps us develop a clear and practical picture. For example, peace, patience and stability are evident in the changed lives of the spiritually mature (James 3:17). 

            Once we have this picture in mind, we need to know how to reach that goal.  The simple answer is, depend on God to work in us.  According to the Apostle Paul, "it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose" (Philippians 2:15).  Consider the principle of purity.  God purifies us when we surrender our will and lives to Him.  God, who is pure, also "purifies us from all sin" as we walk in his fellowship (1 John 1:7; 3:3).  Therefore, those who desire to become spiritually mature, practise being pure. This is not easy in our cultures.  Suppose we face temptation and have impure thoughts.  We can practise being pure and not surrender to the impure action.  If we can strongly picture ourselves being pure and act like a pure person, God will change our lives to become a picture of purity.

            We must understand that our strength comes from God who enables us to picture what we want to be.  Keeping the picture of spiritual maturity firmly in mind during our activities today will move us closer and closer to the spiritual maturity we desire.  It will enable us to go through the necessary trials and tribulations so that we can reach our goal.

            There will likely be setbacks and occasional self-doubts on the road to our maturity.  We will need patience and persistence.  But it's important to keep moving toward our personal goal by practising the principles given in the Holy Scriptures.  If we keep growing, refusing to give up, and staying as positive as we can, we will reach our goal.

            Begin your morning with this simple prayer: “Holy God, let my eyes be open to your presence and your will throughout this day. Work in and through me.” Picture yourself honouring God in all you do: Exercising thankfulness, turning frustrations into learning patience, serving others as service to God, celebrating their successes, being a friend to those discouraged or in distress. Commit yourself to practise spiritual maturity.

            End your day thanking God for the times when your actions moved you closer to the picture of spiritual maturity.