Matthew 13:15 - Distorted Perception

Step 1: Pray. Select.

Today started with the Holy Spirit bringing to mind the words "distorted reflections."I didn't understand what the words meant or what scriptures applied to the words, so I looked up scriptures dealing with the subject.

I was led to Matthew 13:13-16. What I found in the middle seemed to leap out, saying, "Here I am, pick me!" I began praying upon the chosen verse without question or knowing where today was leading.

Let's begin our journey here, friends.

Step 2: Write. Read. Circle

Matthew 13:15 - "For this people's heart has become calloused; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts and turn, and I would heal them."

After reading the scripture three times, the following words stood out amongst the others:

• This People's Heart Has Become Calloused

• They Might See

• Hear

• Understand With Their Hearts

• I Would Heal Them

Step 3: Re-Write

With a focus on the words that stood out, here is the personalized sentence that came alive. It is simple and sweet. Don't forget, if you are doing this alongside me today, to add your name to your unique sentence:

• Jennifer, this people's heart has become calloused. They might see, hear, understand with their heart, I would heal them.

Step 4: Visualize

As I think about the sentence this morning, I find myself barely on the cusp of understanding just how void of love the world is. Jesus speaks in parable after parable in the chapter, reminding us if we open ourselves to him, he will heal. It is hard to fathom how incredibly closed off we have become from seeing the possibilities of a better way to live. Jesus tells us our wealth, happiness, and abundance lie within our perspective. If we learn His ways, we can gain one hundred, sixty, or thirty times the investment we put in.

The Holy Spirit then reveals that, through mismanaged expectations in life, our hearts begin to harden little by little. He shows me that we have been sold on the shiny objects, the lavish life we covet, causing us to run tirelessly toward a mirage in a desert—thirsty for a fictitious place.

When we are in this mindset, we don't stop looking around at all the beauty of being who we are in this space in time. The world is counting on us to capitalize on buying our way out of a "not enough" lifestyle, deriving from a scarcity mindset built off fear and low self-worth. Think of the serpent in the garden. The snake tempted Eve with the possibility of the apple, allowing her to be "like" God. By twisting her mind, causing her to compare herself to God when the truth is no human will ever be the great I AM. There is only one. Yet, if she could be "like" God, she would be willing to lie, cheat, and steal from the garden that was already hers. She is essentially robbing herself.

The more we see, hear, and feel unloved and unworthy, the more our hearts grow calloused. The more they are hardened, the more we don't feel. The more we don't feel, the more we can't grow. As Jesus so eloquently put it in red letters in verse 22 of the chapter, " The seed falling among the thorns refers to someone who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, making it unfruitful."

Friends, Jesus, our LORD, is not trying to hurt us; we are allowing the weeds from the enemy to choke the very thing God is telling us we deserve to have, the wealth and abundant life he is giving us each and every day just by being beautifully perfect you in this very moment. This causes us to be unfaithful to Jesus and his ways.

Holy Spirit tells me this is a lesson in self-sabotage. As we arrive at the end of the chapter in verse 58, sadly, the Holy Spirit reveals the result for many who refuse to soften their hearts and are stuck in their ways: "And he did not do many miracles there, because of their lack of faith."

Friends, don't callus your hearts to the point we close our eyes, ears, and understanding, choking our faith and becoming prey or the seeds without root, waiting for the enemy to come and take us at the end of the age. A question begins to brew in my mind, so I move to Step 5.

Step 5: Ask. Seek

The words that came to mind were:

• Holy Spirit, how can I be filled with love to keep my eyes and ears open to Jesus's miraculous work, planting roots to keep me safe from my enemy?

Step 6: Hear. Write. Receive

Here is the answer I received:

"Remember the crucifixion. If Jesus found a way not to harden his heart, neither should you. He was able to save the very people who beat him, spit on him, and cursed him for being exactly who he was - the great I AM. He tried to warn them, but those with eyes could not see, and those with ears could not hear. They could not see the spiritual anymore. They were lost in this world. And this world is a wilderness that does not produce fruit. Be about your Father's business. Do not worry about the riches of the world. Focus on where Jesus looked when tempted by the snake. He looked up and told the serpent to get behind him. He did not harden his heart toward the task that lay ahead. He struggled and felt pain, but the reward was so much greater in the end. He bought the ticket for us to get into the arena of Heaven. He saved a seat for you. Not just a seat but a mansion as a dwelling place. In his Father's house, there are many mansions. He told you. Stay true to him, and he will be true to you. Do as Jesus did in the garden of Gethsemane. Like the olive, he was pressed until running over with the anointing oil flowing to all who believed and had faith in the Father. Pray and look up; do not let the world distort your perspective of the beautiful life the LORD has already given you. You are enough. And He knows the plans He has for you; plans to prosper you and not to harm you."

Step 7: Pray. Confirm

Heavenly Father, I come to you humbly in the name of my LORD and Savior, Jesus.

Help me understand that in the pressing, oil is being produced that will flow over my life and onto generations to come. Help shield me from the enemy's tricks and keep me on the path of the straight and narrow. I am perfectly made in your image right now—not later or tomorrow, but right now! As long as I answer your call for your will over my life, I will have more peace and prosperity forever.

Thank you for sending Jesus as my example of how, when things might seem hopeless, you can send an angel to give me strength and keep pressing forward.

I seal this prayer with the precious blood of your son, Jesus, who died for me, in covenant with your will - Amen! Thy will be done!

If you used the scripture of the day and need prayer or someone to pray with you, connect Here. Remember, you are not alone.

Step 8: Share. Testify

If you workshopped any of the verses mentioned above using the 8-Step Prayer Practice, we would love to hear from you in the comments below about what the Holy Spirit showed or spoke to you today.

Remember to spread hope and share your miracle or testimony HERE. We want to see how God is working in your life!

Conclusion:

Friends, today's journey brought a whole new perspective to light.

If we just fight and press through, the oil will flow. If we open our eyes and ears, our Father will heal and fulfill any need or desire we have.

No matter what, today, don't harden your heart. Instead, open it and let the love of Jesus fill you up, like the angel did for Jesus, giving him strength in the garden rather than strangling the fruit with the snake's lies.

Be encouraged and press on! See you soon.