Be Aware of Blind Spots

I learned defensive driving skills in my high school driver’s education class. My instructor taught me how to properly change lanes, merge into traffic, and check sideview and rearview mirrors for blind spots while driving.

Honestly, I feared driving on the interstate. My father had gotten into an accident years earlier. I never forgot the day he was summoned to traffic court. The judge had no mercy. He told my father that he was guilty and fined him for looking, but not seeing!

When the time came for me to get a driver’s license, a teenager under the age of 18 was required to appear in court accompanied by a parent. I was extremely nervous and anxious to go before a judge. However, he was very approachable and showed me grace. He congratulated me for successfully completing the driver’s education class. His encouraging words were, “Remember to drive safe and smart!”

Even now, I drive with great caution and awareness. I understand the consequences of both physical and spiritual blindness. Any area in our lives that we cannot see that may negatively affect us is a blind spot. Just like the blind spots when you are driving a car, spiritual blind spots that go ignored or unseen can lead to massive wrecks and devastation in life.

Scripture reveals God’s message to the Laodicean church that includes not being able to see:

You say, ‘I am rich. I have everything I want. I don’t need a thing!’ And you don’t realize that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked. So I advise you to buy gold from me—gold that has been purified by fire. Then you will be rich. Also buy white garments from me so you will not be shamed by your nakedness, and ointment for your eyes so you will be able to see. I correct and discipline everyone I love. So be diligent and turn from your indifference. (Revelation 3:17-19 NLT)

It is God Who opens the spiritual eyes of believers (Ephesians 1:17-18). Jesus Christ’s suffering was so we could be whole and healed (Isaiah 53:5). We don’t have to remain blind to any spiritual condition.

When we have a blind spot, it not only hinders us from seeing God accurately, but  also deters us from seeing ourselves properly. I know this from experience. Years of strongholds, wrong thoughts, unhealthy habits, and ungodly actions kept me in the dark. The Holy Spirit’s loving conviction revealed those areas and corrected me through the Scriptures. Like looking in a mirror, the living Word was reading me. I recognized the spiritual blindness, defects, and faults in my flawed character, an old sinful nature.

Thankfully, the Living Word warns us of the danger of self-deception about our own sins and gives us the solution. The solution is to walk in the light, as God is in the light, and consistently seek the cleansing blood of Jesus as we confess our sins. To overcome spiritual blindness, we must choose to live by walking in the light (1 John 1:5-8).

Pray this prayer with me:
Father, thank you that the Holy Spirit guides us into all truth. Lord, your spotlight penetrates hearts, exposing every hidden blind spot. Help us trust You with all our heart and lean not on our own understanding. We want to walk in the light as You direct our path. Humbly, we pray in the worthy and precious name of Jesus. Amen!

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Scripture is quoted from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.