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Perspective matters

We often hear the scripture quoted from 2 Corinthians 5:7 that states that we walk by faith and not by sight. In the Amplified version, it states that we walk by faith, not by sight (living our lives in a manner consistent with our confident belief in God’s promises). This would imply that the opposite of faith is doubt, when in fact it is a lack of sight or proper perspective. The way we perceive a situation will have a direct impact on how we are going to handle it. How well we handle a situation and our perspective about it is can be more critical than the event.

Let’s talk about the difference between perception verses perspective. Per Miriam-Webster, perception is a result of perceiving or observation. It is a mental image or concept, an awareness of elements of environment through physical sensation interpreted in the light of experience. Perspective is a mental view or prospect, or the facts known to one to see all the relevant data in a meaningful relationship. In short, perspective is the judgement or internal capacity that we must have to make a choice or a decision. This could apply whether the decision is good or bad, helpful or unhelpful, right or wrong, hopeful or without hope, or possible or impossible.

In the Strong’s Greek, the word Phronimos (fron-ee-mos) is an adjective, derived from the word phren, which is personal perspective regulating outward behavior. This roots back to our inner perspective that reflects our personal mindsets. The word Phroneo means to be practically wise or sensible. Wisdom gives us the ability to make a proper judgement. Isaiah 55:8-9 says, “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways my ways, says the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.”

Romans 8:28 shows us that God has different goals than we do and He is always going for a higher good than we can imagine. We want to be comfortable, but God wants us to be transformed into His likeness. Often we want to save our own skin and those whom we love, but God wants to save all of mankind. We want our offenders punished by holding them hostage in our hearts, but God wants all our offenders to be set free from bondage and reconciled back to Him. We want our lives to be comfortable, while God wants to make us like Christ.

Whenever we go through a trial or a tough circumstance in our lives, God always wants to get His glory out of it. He always wants us to grow from the experience and to use it for our greater good. He is our Father and we are His children, and He always wants the very best for us. God wants to give us eyes to see though His eyes and not though the eyes of our experiences. In Psalm 1, He tells us that if we delight in him and meditate on His word, He will make us like trees that will bear fruit in each season and that we will prosper in all that we do.

I would ask you today, what is your focus on? Are you so busy focusing on the problem that you have taken your eyes off God? Nothing we can do is greater than what He has planned for us. Through him we have the power to change our perspective!

— White is the pastor at Lite-Shine Ministries in Williamsport.

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