It's All About Perspective

Have you ever thought about the fact that reflection can be a large motivation in your life?  While reflection is a large motivation, perspective can be what actually leads to our decisions and choices.  You see, when we reflect on things in our lives, it builds a direction that we can take, but when we look at our perspective, that's what makes the decision of that direction,  God spoke these words to the children of Israel: “I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that I have set before you life and death, the blessing and the curse.  So choose life in order that you may live, you and your descendants.”  Deuteronomy 30:19

When God spoke these words to the children of Israel, he was reminding them that when they would return to trust in him for their lives, that he would redeem them and would give them a different perspective.  But the choice was up to them.  It is my sense that this is a great reminder for us even today.  When I reflect on those things that have happened in my life, my reflection can bring either a positive thought or a negative thought.  My thought process then begins to carry me down one of two paths.  I can reflect on how great God is and has been in my life and has carried me through difficult situations and has made me an overcomer.  However, if I go down the negative road, I start to think of what a lousy life I've had and how terrible it is.  Now, you can begin to see that whichever path I choose has a direct result on my perspective of life and my decisions to move forward.  

By putting my trust in Christ Jesus and putting that trust into faith that he knows best for me, I can then take a path of joy, strength, and courage which will motivate a positive direction in my life instead of negative.  So how much time do you spend reflecting on the things that happened in your life?  And what do you think of them and how would you apply them to the story that God has made for you?  How, then, will you respond to that story?

I'm reminded of the words that Jesus spoke for me in this area regarding the choice I have in making my life represent His story for me:  “For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it; but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.”  Matthew 16:25  

I know for me, when I made the choice to become immersed in God's story for me, my reflection and my perspective changed completely.  I then began to see those events in my life that I thought would destroy me or distract me from God's vision for my life actually did just the opposite.  The choices I now make are completely different because the reflection is that of God's promises for my life.  The choices that I now make are completely different because my perspective has changed from one of satisfaction or view of the natural versus the joy of the eternal.  

What do your choices say about your reflection and your perspective?  Today, I pray that you choose God’s joy in your life.

Blessings,
Pastor Dan