Perspective

Being stuck in the house has given us all the time in the world to speak and to listen. We are engaging in communication that many have found themselves to busy to engage in before now. With this new level of communication it lends us to speak and interpret from our perspectives or vantage points. The thing is, we often interpret from our own opinions which have more than likely been developed by our personal experiences be it good or bad. The problem with this is that it causes us to miss the truth or what we should actually be focused on.

I want to challenge us, as we are taking in information and releasing information to challenge or question our perspectives. We are often driven in the wrong directions when we are driven by our biases and brokeness. Below are some things that we can question or examine that

have the potential to drive us in the wrong direction when left unaddressed meaning, causing us to fear, feel anxious, to feel hopelessness and to even question our faith and the way God expresses Himself to us.

Our Biases (Not exhausitive just what came to mind):

1. There are pre-existing issues with the government.

2. There are pre-existing issues with the church.

3. There are pre-existing fears of death.

4. There are pre-existing mental health issues or diagnoses.

5. There is unresolved trauma from tragedy.

6. There are unresolved issues with authority.

7. There is a lack of biblical knowledge, you may be unaware of the times, and not knowledgable about biblical prophecy.

All of the above things are normal but carry the potential to put us in a more compromised position and can cause us to be driven by what we see around us and not by what we believe, which is the truth of the word of God. What to do? Address these biases with the word of God, in prayer, counsel, by all means necessary. This will bring personal healing and purity. (This is not a over night process but may require some digging, repenting, and forgiving)

Our Truth (this is how we weigh our perspective):

1. Suffering IS a part of the Christian walk - We suffer with Christ and we reign with Christ! “We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed” (2 Corinthians 4:8–9), “Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ” (Galatians 6:2), “comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.” (2 Corinthians 1:4), “This light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.” (2 Corinthians 4:17–18).

2. We ALWAYS win - when you look throughout the scriptures, and as many say if you read the end of the story, we always win. If it doesn't look like you are winning, then you can rest assure that you have not made it to the end yet. Just keep going. "For everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith." 1 John 5:4.

4. Prophecy will be fulfilled - often we do not like the process of the fulfilling of prophecy, it often puts us in uncomfortable positions but we have to remember that it is always bigger than us. When we look at the Israelites, God promised Moses freedom but Egypt had to go through a number of plagues and the people of God were kept in the midst of them when they obey the instructions of the Lord (.Exodus Chapters 7-12) Moses and the Israelites knew God but God needed to show Pharaoh and the egyptians who He was.

Not only this but prophecy also at times does not look like what we want, when we look at the prophecies in the book of Revelations, they don't sound fun to say the least but we have to see it through the eyes of the children of God. As stated above through it all we win but we also are the vehicles in which God ministers to the world. Endure we must but we overcome!

5. We find our hope, life, deliverance in Jesus ALONE - When we place our hope in other things, we set ourself up for false hope and disappointment. Psalm 60 says that deliverance from man is vain. Man will develop plans and although some of those plan may be from God, men that are not surrendered to God will want the credit and glory for what God will do. We have to take our hope out of systems that continue to fail time after time.

We serve a God who has never lost, whose kingdom has never failed, who can not be outnumber or overpowered. A God whose very word can change everything. He is the creator, He is the master strategist. In His presence is the fullness of joy. In Him we find, peace, healing, hope, provision, safety...He is, I AM!

6. Prosperity/harvest for the believer looks different from the world - Are there at times tangible harvests from crises? Yes, the israelites "spoiled" the egyptian and the spoils were used for the house of God. What we have and what we gain is to be used for the glory of God. But as believers our greatest prosperity is prospering in the things of the Lord and our greatest harvest is the harvest of souls.

7. We are ambassadors - Read 2 Corinthians 5:11-21, When we are made new in Christ we no longer live for ourselves but we live to do the work and will of the Father. We are in this world but not of this world, we are governed by the authority of Heaven!

Our Distractions:

Everything that is being said and posted that is not interpreted correctly or through the correct lenses can become distractions. There is a lot going on but what is God's perspective? Don't forfeit your process and purging trying to figure it all out.

Acknowledge it

Weigh it

Don't allow it to consume you

Let God's truth and promises be your resting place

As for you acknowledge your fears, biases, unresolved issues, feel them, forgive and repent as is necessary. Allow God to build you up for the days to come!

Prayer

God give us your perspective on the matters at hand. Forgive us for not trusting you and believing the word of man over your word. We declare that your word has the final authority in our lives. Whatever process we have to endure to get to your promises for us, help us to endure it as good soldiers. As we study your word and talk to you, strengthen our faith. We believe the word of the Lord and we are not move by what we see. Give us your eyes and sharpen our discernment in this season. In Jesus' name, Amen!