How To Overcome Your Blind Spots

A. DEFINITION: “BLIND SPOTS”

1. Physical. The small area on the retina that is insensitive to light.

2. Communication. Any area where a signal cannot reach, i.e., radio, cell phone (also dead zone).

3. Car. An area behind the driver’s field of vision.

4. Moral. When a person is uninformed, prejudicial, or refuses to address an issue.

B. THREE ASPECTS OF BLIND SPOTS:

1. The cause of blind spots.

2. The crash of blind spots.

3. The correction of blind spots.

C. BLIND SPOTS CAUSED BY FAMILY

1. Abraham lied to protect himself and his wife. “Say, you are my sister” (Gen. 12:13).

2. Abraham gave his nephew Lot first choice of the Promised Land.

a. The elder had first choice.

b. God gave Abraham the land.

c. Lot was ruined by first choice.

3. Abraham tried to protect Ishmael, the child of a servant girl. “Oh that Ishmael might live before thee” (Gen. 17:18).

a. Isaac was God’s choice.

b. Ishmael caused the Jews 3000 years of misery.

4. Prejudice is a blind spot. Sarah said of Isaac, “My son” (Gen. 21:10). Abraham said, “His son” (Gen. 21:11).

D. BLINDNESS CAUSED BY SEX AND PASSION

1. Lust: Samson and the woman in Timnah. “Get her for me . . . she pleases me” (Judges 14:2-3).

2. Risk: Samson risked his life to visit a harlot in Hebron (Judges 16:1-3).

3. Refused to believe: Three times Delilah tried to bind him. “She pressed him daily . . . he told her all his heart” (Judges 16:16-17).

E. BLINDNESS CAUSED BY EASE, RICHES AND POSITION

1. David stayed true to God away from home and temple, when his life was threatened, and there was no position.

2. Ease. “When kings go out to battle . . . David remained at Jerusalem” (2 Sam. 11:1). “He saw a woman washing herself” (2 Sam. 11:2).

3. Position. David said, “Number ye the people that I may know” (2 Sam. 24:2).

F. HOW TO CORRECT OUR BLIND SPOTS

1. Admit your blindness. “A veil covers their mind, so they cannot understand the truth” (2 Cor. 3:14).

2. Use the mirror of scripture. “If you listen and don’t obey, it is like looking at your face in a mirror, but doing nothing to improve” (James 1:23, LB). “If you keep looking into the mirror of God’s perfect Law the Scriptures – that sets you free and if you do what it says, God will bless you” (James 1:25, ELT).

3. We can help others. When you back up, another driver can see what you can’t. “Have had the veil removed so we can be mirrors . . . as the Spirit of the Lord works within us . . .we reflect His glory even more” (2 Cor. 2:18, LB).

4. Be honest of your sin, be quick to confess, be decisive to act.

a. Be rigorous with your sin.

b. “If we confess our sin, He is faithful and just to forgive our sin, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9).

c. “Do not let any part of your body become a tool of wickedness” (Rom. 6:13, LB).

5. Learn from past mistakes.

G. WHAT CAN WE LEARN FROM BLIND SPOTS?

1. Even those with perfect vision (20/20) have a blind spot.

2. We use our other eye to compensate our blind spot, i.e., we usually use something else to overcome it.

3. If we are near-sighted, we can’t see the future.

4. If we are far-sighted, we can’t see the details of our life.

5. If we have cataracts, we have blurred vision.

6. Ask, “Am I dealing with a distraction, a pre-occupation, or a true blind spot?”

7. Helping others with the same blind spot, helps you deal with your weakness.

8. You can’t correct your blind spots until you know they are there.

9. The more aware you are of your blind spots, the more control and growth you have over your life for God.

10. Self- awareness of your blind spots leads to accurate self-knowledge.

11. You should correct your own blind spots before someone else deals with them.

12. “You shall know the truth, and the truth will set you free” (John 8:32).

H. PRAYER

“The servant . . . arose early and went out, there was an army, surrounding the city with horses and chariots. And his servant said to him (Elisha), ‘Alas, my master! What shall we do?’” (2 Kings 6:15). “And Elisha prayed, and said, ‘Lord, I pray, open his eyes that he may see’ . . . and behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha” (2 Kings 6:17).

Lord, I admit I have had blind spots in the past, and have some now. Be gracious and protect me from my blind spots. Show me my blind spots, and give me wisdom to deal with them. Forgive me of my sin and blindness. Open my eyes to see your plan for my life. Amen