Hennie Symington

I will give them a new heart and a new mind. I will take away their stubborn heart of stone and will give them an obedient heart. Ezekiel 11:19

When a person looks in one direction, he needs to turn a mere 45 degrees in order to see a completely different picture. In the same way a sinner needs to make just a small adjustment to see his situation in another light, a wise old Rabbi once said.

Sometimes the distance between heaven and hell, between hope and hopelessness, between sin and forgiveness seems too wide to overcome. Sometimes a relationship seems so hopelessly broken that we don’t even see the point in trying to reconcile with one another. The very thought of reaching out to each other seems almost impossible. But it doesn’t have to be this way. Sometimes, all it takes is a small adjustment. A change of direction – a slight angle to the left or to the right could change your perspective completely. A moment of heartfelt prayer or forgiveness and everything is seen in a different light. It is not impossible. Try it.

Stop in your tracks and change direction. Try to see the other side to an argument when trying to overcome your differences. Here are a few tips to take to heart (you can compile your own list of your most common and harmful attitudes):

• If your inability to handle money responsibly stands between you and your partner, do something about it.
• Stop gossiping at work or at home.
• Don’t let a R100 stand between you and your domestic helper; think again about her situation.
• Face up to your secret sins and confess them before God.

There are a thousand other examples where a slight change of attitude can make an appreciable difference in your own life and in the lives of others. If you don’t succeed at first, at least turn your heart in the right direction. From there on God takes off the burden and removes it as far as the east is from the west and allows you to look at things from a different perspective.

Prayer: Dear God, why is it so difficult for me to change my way of looking at things? Please stand next to me to guide me in the right direction. Amen