on perspective

My dear self,

You can talk about perspective all day long, think on it, read up about it, and all those things are good for starters...but eventually you need to change it.  But how, you ask.  It's a two-step process that requires 1) a decision and 2) a power source. 

Step 1 is all you.  The decision is your responsibility.  You have to choose to view the problem, fear, worry, whatever, from another angle.  You stop letting your feelings or your past or your limited understanding shape the way you view the situation and decide (in a very active, deliberate way) to adopt a perspective that has nothing to do with you and everything to do with God and His truth.

Step 2 is where God's grace and power come in.  Once you decide to let Him re-shape your perspective, He can infuse and empower and revolutionize.  He can change things, fix the problem, reveal new information, or He might just give you the peace that comes from putting Him back in control (where we both know He's always been, whether we choose to recognize it or not).

Think about what you read in Jesus Calling this morning:

 

Remember that joy is not dependent on your circumstances...do not judge a day as devoid of Joy just because it contains difficulties. Instead, concentrate on staying in communication with Me.  Many of the problems that clamor for your attention will resolve themselves.  Other matters you must deal with, but I will help you with them.  If you make problem-solving secondary to the goal of living close to Me, you can find Joy even in your most difficult days.

 

I know there are few things going on right now that you're worried and mad and sad about and you don't understand...and you don't know what to do...but maybe the best thing for you to do is just stop.  Decide that you don't have the whole picture, you aren't the boss of the universe, and all your obsessing is useless...decide that the God of the Universe who loves you and loves all those you love is big enough to handle it - any it - and then be still.  Let Him work and trust Him in the meantime.  Let Him shift your perspective.

Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Savior. The Sovereign Lord is my strength; he makes my feet like the feet of a deer, he enables me to go on the heights.

Habakkuk 3:17–19

Be still, and know that I am God.
Psalm 46:10

Besides, its Friday afternoon...better to relax and dump the whole "solve the world's problems" on somebody that works weekends...we have some serious relaxing to do!