We become what we behold

        William Blake first said it: "We become what we behold."
        Here's how Paul expressed it in 2 Cor.3:18, "And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit."
        So what are you beholding? 
        I've been asking myself this question.  In our distracted, busy, technology-obsessed world, what am I beholding on a daily, consistent basis?  Upon what is my gaze directed?  Yeah, sure we all tend to glance at all kinds of things, but the question boils down to our steady gaze as opposed to our passing glances. What's the focus on our meditations?  When our minds wander, where do they tend to settle?
       Do we tend to default to fretting...worrying...controlling...complaining...envying...striving?  Then guess what?  We're clearly not daily, consistently beholding the beauty, the grace, the forgiveness, the power, the creativity, the joy, the wisdom, the love, the glory of our Savior.  Because we become what we become, and He is not, not, not the Author, Sustainer, or Reflector of fear, anxiety, manipulation, jealousy, discontentment. 
       But we have the choice. Praise God, we have been given us the gift of choosing where we will focus our gaze. We can choose what and who we behold on a consistent basis.
       Thank You, Lord, for giving us minds and hearts that can choose to behold and dwell upon your perfect Word, your astounding creation, and You yourself...You who are perfect, infinite, eternal, beautiful, gracious, winsome, almighty, compassionate, omniscient, faithful, forgiving, omnipotent, loving and on and on.
        What we behold will, quite literally, change the course of our lives--both our ultimate course but also our daily, life-in-the-trenches course.  One is a path of grumbling and discouragement. The other a path of of gratitude and joy. One is a path of endless and self-focused striving. The other a path of daily renewal in You and Your Word.
        Ruth Chou Simons says, "We've been given so much to look at, but we are missing the art of beholding. We are so captivated by our technology and all that it puts before our eyes that we overlook the ways that God displays His glory through creation, relationships, and our ordinary circumstances in the day to day. We look for dramatic ways to experience God, but His presence and transforming work in our lives happen minute by minute." 
       But to experience true, beautiful, life-giving, joy-infusing transformation, we must look daily, intently, consistently at who Jesus is.  We see Him most clearly in His Word.  But we also see Him reflected in the beauty of His creation, in His people, and yes, even in our daily circumstances when we open wide our eyes of faith.
        Lift your gaze from your cell phone and instead gaze at the Savior.  Instead of worrying, start worshipping.  Rather than fretting over your lack of time to get everything done, choose to be fueled and fed by the Ancient of Days who has no beginning and no end and who never, ever runs out of anything.  Stop lamenting what you lack and instead start rejoicing at all--gloriously all--you possess in Him, through Him, and from Him.  He is enough...and He's given us so astoundingly, extravagantly, undeservedly much!
        When we choose to behold Jesus on a daily basis, we move from a scarcity mentality to an abundance mentality.  From despair to hope.  From ugly selfishness to beautiful self-forgetfulness.  From restlessness to rest. And from grumbling and discontentment to gratitude and contentment. 
        So today, who or what will you behold?  Where will you fix your gaze?  Keep returning that glance again and again to gaze at the Savior! 
      Oh might we daily, moment by moment, choose Jesus. 
       To God be the glory.