On heaven’s side of eternity, time is a non-issue. This life, though, is limited. Ask God for faith-eyes to examine how you spend your time.

This is a tough one for many of us, but talk to God openly today about your finances & use your faith-eyes to recognize your many blessings.

Ask God today for faith-eyes to see your family as he sees them. Be alert to his prompts (encouragement, reconciliation, forgiveness?).

What does God want you to see with faith-eyes today about your work, school or other vocation? Consider Colossians 3:23-24.

Today, let’s think about walking by faith at home, from the morning alarm until bedtime. What does God want you to see with faith-eyes?

In our prayer time this week, we’ll look at different aspects of 2 Corinthians 5:7. Ask God to open your faith-eyes as we walk together.

In his second letter to the church in Corinth, Paul talks about our heavenly dwelling and the fact that these bone-weary bodies are merely temporary, because someday, we’ll have a homecoming beyond our wildest imaginations. And then, in 2 Corinthians 5:7, he adds, “For we live by faith, not by sight” (NIV). What does it mean, though, to really live by faith?

The Message translation explains that verse a little more clearly: “It’s what we trust in but don’t yet see that keeps us going.” Could you imagine how radically different our day-to-day lives would be if we truly put that verse into practice?

• What if you woke up in the morning and instead of groaning at the alarm clock as you fumble for the snooze button, you said “Good Morning!” aloud to God in genuine appreciation for being able to live another day?
• What if when payday rolls around, instead of looking at your check stub and thinking about all of the bills yet to pay, you first said a prayer of thanksgiving for God’s provision and faithfulness?

As a culture, we are pretty good at reversing 2 Corinthians 5:7; we trust in what we can see and think skeptically about anything we can’t bank on yet. That mindset runs contrary to the way God wants us to depend on him, though. If we lived day in and day out in unabashed faith in God, then wouldn’t it alter our perspective on life? It doesn’t do us any good to dwell on the could’ve-should’ve-would’ves in our past, any more so than it does to daydream (or worry) about the what-ifs in the future.

If we live each day as an opportunity to trust God with this life he has given us, then we will think differently about ourselves, our belongings, our behaviors and those around us. We might find that an attitude of grace, gratitude and generosity comes a little more naturally, because we desire to honor our Creator, not merely please our own whims.

The Holy Spirit has been called a Comforter, Advocate, Helper and Friend. What do these descriptions say about how much he loves you?

Perhaps the biggest gift you can give someone is to share your own faith story. Ask God to put someone on your heart who needs to hear it.

Like a servant, Jesus washed his disciples’ feet at dinner one evening. Think of one thing you can do today to serve someone else.