Everyone has a spiritual frame of reference for their lives.  It is how you see life in general!  It is how you imagine your life to be. The word "imagine" is sometimes translated "framed".

    I recently had a dream.  In was driving down a road in Canada and looked to the very high jungle like grass some distance from the side of the road. It was then I spotted the back of a elk or moose just above the line of the tall grass.  I stopped my car, grabbed my camera, got out to get a closer look, and possible a good photo of the animal. (In real life, I like outdoor photography). In my dream, as I came close to the four foot tall fence near the road, I could no longer see the back of the animal, but saw the blurred image of a lion strolling through the tall grass.  Then much to my surprise, I saw through the grass a very large grizzly bear that was very near the fence. It seemed that the bear had caught my scent in the breeze and rose up on his hind legs to get a better view.  I squatted down so that the bear would not see me, but it seemed that it may have been a bit too late in that he had already got something of my scent.  At that moment in my dream, I grabbed a high powered rifle at my side and pointed it toward the large bear.  However, when I pulled the trigger, instead of a loud bang, it was, "click ... click ... click."  There was no shells in the rifle!  It was a terrifying moment!  I felt alone and defenseless....  Then I awaken to pray for God to give me revelation of the dream.

    In my dream, I had exhausted my known resources and was facing the fear of a hopeless problem.  Most likely, I was doomed to be spotted and eaten by the bear.  The real problem was my frame of reference.  God was not in the imagination of my dream.  God was NOT in the Picture.  The question that I had to ask myself was, "What if God was in the picture, how would that have changed the picture. Here are some possibilities:  (1) Maybe, God would have given me wisdom to stay in the car or at lease not to get so close to the fence where the bear was. (2) Maybe, God would have caused the lion to roar and distract the bear from my scent.  (3) Maybe, God would have caused the bear to spot the elk or the moose which I had scene earlier.  (4) Maybe, God would have caused the wind to change directions so that the bear would no longer have my scent.  (5) Maybe, God would have provided me with another clip of shells that I might have shot the bear and have a trophy photo with me and the dead bear.  ... Since it is my dream, I like the last option. :-)

    We all face what seem to be impossible situations daily without bringing God into the picture.  If God was in the picture, how would the picture be changed?

"The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that doeth good"  (Psalms 14:1).

"The wicked, through the pride of his countenance, will not seek after God: God is not in all his thoughts"  (Psalms 10:4).

"For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another"  (Titus 3:3).

"And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient"  (Romans 1:28).

"For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,  Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away"  (II Timothy 3:2-5).

"That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world"  (Ephesians 2:12).

David saw God as being unfair.    "When I thought to know this, it was too painful for me"  (Psalms 73:16)

Job also complained. "For Job hath said, I am righteous: and God hath taken away my judgment.  Should I lie against my right? my wound is incurable without transgression"  (Job 34:5-6)
 

"These are wells without water, clouds that are carried with a tempest; to whom the mist of darkness is reserved for ever. For when they speak great swelling words of vanity, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through much wantonness, those that were clean escaped from them who live in error.  While they promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption: for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage. For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning"  (II Peter 2:17-20).

FEAR!  Worry Hopelessness Anxiety    Guilt Anger! Hatred   JEALOUSY Envy Depression Addictions  failures

The individual is a Believer (he has given his life to Jesus), but Jesus is not Lord of his daily life.  In one sense, God is still not practically in the picture.

"For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting"  (Galatians 6:8).

"For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?"  (I Corinthians 3:3)
 

O.K., How do I get  Jesus into my picture?

Jesus is knocking at the door to your soul.

"Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me"  (Revelation 3:20).  (Note: Jesus was speaking to a church of Believers, not to those where not Believers. We must invite him into our lives daily.)

"And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me"  (Luke 9:23). (We must die to self before we are free to follow him.)

"Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing" (John 15:4-5).  (We much choose to fellowship (abide) with Jesus.)

"Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you"  (I Peter 5:7).  (We must put what we are holding on to, into God's hands.)

"After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven"  (Matthew 6:9-10).  Again, we are to pray and make Jesus ruler in every situation.

With Jesus in the frame of reference...  Confidence      Hope      Boldness Security    Justification Peace Success!    Acceptance     Direction Love   Victory

Jesus is Lord over our daily lives.

 
"For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end"  (Jeremiah 29:11).

"For with God nothing shall be impossible"  (Luke 1:37).

"And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose"  (Romans 8:28).

"Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty"  (II Corinthians 3:17).

"There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love"  (I John 4:18).

"Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee"  (Isaiah 26:3).

Some results when Jesus is in the picture. 1. We have a healthy fear of the Lord. 2. We see His perspective of our lives. 3. We seek His direction for our lives. 4. We seek His ability to live our lives. 5. We see God working all things together for our good.