Tonight my husband was cooking dinner, and as I came downstairs, my daughter and I noticed a strange smell coming from the kitchen and realised that the chicken that was being cooked was off. Everyone in the room hadn’t noticed the strange smell until we mentioned something was wrong, but it was very apparent to us as we entered the room.
Fortunately, we all escaped getting food poisoning because we noticed something was wrong before anyone ate the chicken and became sick.
Tonight’s spoilt chicken got me thinking about how easy it is to be surrounded by things that are “off” and harmful to us and not realise it. We can grow accustomed to our surroundings and circumstances, so we don’t realise there is anything wrong.
It’s only when we distance ourselves or someone points it out to us that we can gain some discernment, much like nobody else in the room could smell the chicken until we drew their attention to the strange smell.
It's so easy to get caught up in our point of view or be part of “group think” where everyone around us is saying and thinking the same things in life. This can prevent us from seeing the bigger picture or where something is not quite right because we’re only looking from one perspective and angle. It’s only when God or another person from the outside speaks up that we are able to see things from a different perspective.
Today I encourage you to ask Jesus for some wisdom about how you relate to and view circumstances and relationships in your world.
Have you become so familiar with certain behaviours and relationships that you can’t see that they are toxic and “smell” bad?
Are you only seeing one point of view and don’t recognise the truth God is speaking because you have become accustomed to a particular narrative, way of relating to others or certain mindsets and behaviours with which you have been surrounded?
Ask God to reveal if there is anything “off” in your world because the last thing you want is poison in your life – because much like off chicken can make you sick and even kill you, so too can things be killed off or spoilt in your life if you partake and surround yourself with that which is toxic.
God wants you to be surrounded with everything that is good, pure and healthy, and he will provide those people and places in which you can grow, give and receive if you allow Him to lead you.
“Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.” (Psalm 51:10)
“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9)
“Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shifting shadow.” (James 1:17)
“Create in me a clean heart, O God, And renew a steadfast spirit within me” (Psalm 51:10)
Prayer: Lord, thank you for cleaning me from anything that would cause me harm. Please help me to be aware and have discernment regarding those things in my world that are good for me and those things or people that are not and continue to lead me in the way I should go. In Jesus name Amen.
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