Quite some time ago, on a Sunday morning I heard God speak these words to my heart. "You must keep your eyes on the Transcendent One in order to transcend." I had a generic understanding of what He was saying, I needed to keep my eyes on Jesus instead of my circumstances.But when I got out my iPhone, right there in church, and looked up the dictionary definitions of the words transcend and transcendent, it gave me a lot more insight.
transcend-to rise above or go beyond the limits of
-to rise above or extend notably beyond ordinary limits
transcendent-exceeding usual limits
-beyond the limits of ordinary experience
-beyond the limits of all possible experience and knowledge
-beyond comprehension
-transcending the universe or material existence
In my life at that time, there were some circumstances that I'd been praying about for a long time. Things beyond my control that I wanted to see change. Things that I thought were limiting my purpose and destiny. Things that I used as an excuse to be lazy and complacent about my life.
I realized then, and am reminded today, that too often I've kept my eyes on circumstances instead of on Jesus. He is beyond the limits of any circumstance, any experience and all knowledge. He is far above the ability of man to fully comprehend Him. He transcends even the limits of this material world or even the whole universe. Yet, in my unbelief, I'd been speaking and acting like He couldn't help me live beyond the limits of my situation. And that's a lie. I'd been believing a lie. He is the Transcendent One and He can help us transcend anything, rise above anything, and go beyond the limits of anything.
Ephesians 1:15-23NKJV Therefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, do not cease to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers: that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come.
And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church,which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.
Ephesians 4:10 NKJV He who descended is also the One who ascended far above all the heavens, that He might fill all things.
Elizabeth, the definitions you have shared provide powerful insight. Thank you for sharing your thoughts today as they were needed. I want to keep my eyes on the Transcendent One so that I can transcend. Blessings!
ReplyDeleteRevelation of spirit and wisdom, eyes of understanding enlightened, and the hope of His calling. Great words for me in that scripture to remember. Sometimes my seeing is not what it should be and my understanding. Prayers for more enlightenment. Great food for thought post.
ReplyDeleteDear Elizabeth, thank you for such insight and encouragement! It may be July, but you've got me thinking that my word for 2020 may be beyond.
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