Stand Corrected.

Can you believe that for as long as we’ve talked about 2020 and all things related to it, that we are finally on the cusp? Seriously, in less than 48 hours as the ancestors would say, “If the Lord tarries and the creek don’t rise,” we will walk into a new year and even more, a new decade. Perhaps you’ve been invited to a vision party, or you have new focus or new insight for the new you. You might even be inclined not to make resolutions and instead commit yourself to walking out the promises that God has whispered to you in the midnight hour. Even still, you may prefer to simply continue in the pathway that you’ve already begun in 2019. For me, despite the clarity that 20/20 vision may promote, the new decade will require correction. Allow me to explain in a bit more detail.

Years ago, as I shared with my spouse that I had an eye doctor appointment, he inquired, What’s your vision? I responded, “What do you mean?” He replied, “Like, I know you’re not 20/20, but what are you?” To be sure, I’ve worn corrective lenses since I was four years old. I wore my glasses religiously until I reached high school. I would walk through the halls of Lindblom (excuse me, while I acknowledge the BEST high school ever….Swoop 1 time!), blind as a bat. When I found my way to the classroom, I would sit at the front of the classroom, sneak and place my glasses, who my peers called, “pop bottles” on my face, or simply struggle to see the chalkboard. When I went away to college, I began to wear contact lenses, and over the years, the prescription continued to increase. However, I’d never inquired about my eyesight. I just knew I couldn’t see without assistance, without correction. Later, when I went to the eye doctor, I asked the question that was presented to me. My doctor responded, “Well, that’s um, hard to really, um say, but let’s see, if I were to answer, I would say about 20/400.” I still didn’t know exactly what that meant, but I knew mathematically speaking, it was a long way from 20/20 vision. My doctor went on, “But with correction, you might not have 20/20 vision, but we can certainly make sure that you have sight.”

Some people are already proclaiming what 2020 will be, will do, will demonstrate. I’m not hating on them or their sentiment, hopes, dreams, prayers, and the like. But for me, I am confident that no matter how strong we start a thing, somewhere, sometime, perhaps even before February struts in, all said “2020 declarations” may be under duress and each of us are forced with the opportunity to allow faith to kick in. When our minds began to trick us to believe “not God,” and our hearts are heavy carrying the expectation of promise that doesn’t seem tangible, and our spirits are conflicted to choose what is readily available as opposed to what feels far from manifestation, we need to employ the practice of correction. Psalm 5:3 decrees, “In the morning, Lord, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait expectantly.” To me, this suggests that daily, we have the invitation to enact correction. Because no matter how holy or anointed we believe ourselves to be, we will get discouraged, we will be challenged to believe God and we will get weary while we wait. So daily, in addition to repenting, we must also petition God and wait with expectation, in a way that acknowledges new mercy, new grace and new hope as if yesterday’s disappointment has no impact on today’s probability.

Each morning, I must place my contact lenses in my eyes, if I have a hope of navigating my day. Doing so allows me to correct the difficulty I have with my vision. Wearing my contact lenses enables me to drive, work on my laptop, take notes during meetings and a host of other maneuvers. Let me go further. When we take advantage to embrace correction for the seeds of doubt, disappointment, discouragement, dismay, disbelief and disengagement we are walking out Psalm 5:3, which in turns demonstrates God’s ability to trust us with what He promised, while enabling us to encourage others and assist in their corrective measures as well.

I have friends who’ve assumed braces as adults, others who visit a chiropractor regularly for alignment, some who frequent exercise classes in an effort to lead a healthier lifestyle, and the list goes on. How is it that we can justify these forms of correction, yet refuse to correct the trash that has been spoken over us, is being spoken over us, or will be whether by us, the enemy or those on his payroll? It is absolutely nothing wrong with speaking the promises of 2020, but minus corrective measures, when those promises appear to be compromised, your efforts will be 20/400 or worse. What correction will you plan to implement when your vision is obstructed, damaged or even invisible? Even with 20/20 vision, one has to concern themselves with peripheral vision, being able to see what is around oneself, not be distracted and continue to maintain focus. With 20/20 vision, one still has to seek clarity and sharpness for full functionality, even at a distance. With 20/20 vision, one still has to work to see those things closely that typically may only be seen clearly at a distance. Whether your vision is 20/20 or 20/400, it is imperative that each of us make a plan of accountability for when our vision is hindered. Only then will we not only improve our sight, but also build our faith. Hebrews 11:1 affirms, “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.”

Happy New Year. Stand corrected.