Higher Perspective That Takes Some Work

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A “positive” perspective takes effort.  There are so many things that want to draw our attention to the negatives- from social apps, mainstream media, people we come in contact with but negativity can   come from us as well.

While growing up I dreaded school more then most.  Anxiety would race through my body even before my ear piercing alarm would go off.  No amount of studying seemed to calm the apprehension of a test or quiz day.  Change brought nervousness and queasiness.  Failure brought depression and frustration. 

I preferred solitude.  I still prefer a quiet place where I can “gather my thoughts”. 

Today I have to make an effort to be sociable with large groups of people.  I seem to be an observer of people.  I often pay close attention to people’s verbal tones and actions.  I still collect people’s actions like data- especially where I sense tension or some kind of judgment towards me. 

In these cases I have to fight the urge to withdraw.  I have to fight sinking into the quicksand condemnation.   I have to let go of “feeling less” then….

I always felt different and to this day I still sometimes feel awkward around others.  My mind at times seems to fail me -shutting my access off to its’ vocabulary banks where I easily forget people’s names and words causing conversation blunders.

Assessing these matters, I have pondered if these insufficiencies and failures have strengthened me in a strange way- where I have had to yield myself to God’s abounding grace instead of what wants to impede and deter from “higher/constructive” perspectives.    

It takes work to not fall into the habitual practices of the past.  It is probably one of the most difficult things we can do- to learn to submit, let go and accept God’s authority over our life so we can walk in the resilient buoyancy of God.     

Paul wrote, “To this end also we pray for you always, that our God will count you worthy of your calling, and fulfill every desire for goodness and the work of the faith with power.” 2 Thessalonians 1:11 NASB

 

We often look at out our calling in a broad sense but our calling is also “intimate” and “eternal”.  If you are a Christian, your calling is being a child of God.  There is no higher calling.  It is allowing to God to empower you in all things great and small in the day… no matter in success or failure, sickness or good health, richer or poorer, older for older and so on… 

Our calling is believing that God is the author and finisher of our faith…  He helps us become conquers over the old habits of self and the hindrances of this world.  We put our hard “investment/effort/work/” into trusting that the LORD is LORD of our life.

And in return for our hard mental work: Life has… goodness because He is LIFE, which is our higher perspective/power amongst everything else. 

Think of all the benefits there are to your soul, mind and body in living in our calling.

  

Living in the Knowledge of the Truth

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As my mind became quiet these words came to mind.

“To come to the knowledge of the truth.”

So I looked up this verse:

“who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.” 1 Timothy 2:4

God doesn’t just want us to be saved but come to the knowledge of the truth- to live in it, understand it, and hence- be empowered by it!  God’s truth is not just some words on a page but guided empowered by the Holy Spirit liberate soul from all that is in the world, others, and ourselves. 

They usher us into a new way of seeing day to day.

In paraphrasing what Pastor Antonio recently shared with me from Mexico, “God is manifesting goodness in our life, not by the limitations and strings of our conscious mind, but beyond.”

For me I was presented with a picture.  Our understanding is a hallway of doors.  Doors we have opened, experienced and lived by.  But when we come to the end ourselves we are presented with a DOOR that surpasses all the others doors of our understanding.  And when this DOOR opens and by the grace of God- this magnificent light floods our soul. It takes the blinders off, cleans, clarifies, unshackles, and makes new what has been exposed to the elements of this corrupted world.  We desire not the old doors but the ONE in which the light is pouring forth, the DOOR that gave us something much more satisfying and liberating then all the other doors that are were futile and ineffective.  This is the DOOR in which we desire.

“I know all the things you do, and I have opened a door for you that no one can shut.  You have little strength, yet you have obeyed my word and did not deny me.” Revelation 3:8

I am reminded of this verse.

“May you experience the love of Christ, though it is so great you will never fully understand it.  Then you will be filled with the fullness of life and power that comes from God.” Ephesians 3:19

Just as the miracle of our salvation cannot be fully understood when we surrendered our life to Jesus Christ so it is when we continue to surrender to God daily (sanctification).  After all it is not we, (our strength, our might, or our intelligence that was so easily enticed by the flawed and fallen understanding) but the knowledge of truth working in our lives that comes only by surrendering to Christ.  It is God and in God alone.

1 Thessalonians 5:23-24 says “Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.  He who calls you is faithful, who also will do it.”

C. S. Lewis wrote:

Let us picture a woman thrown into a dungeon. There she bears and rears a son. He grows

up seeing nothing but the dungeon walls, the straw on the floor, and a little patch of the

sky seen through the grating, which is too high up to show anything except sky. This

unfortunate woman was an artist, and when they imprisoned her she managed to bring

with her a drawing pad and a box of pencils. As she never loses the hope of deliverance she

is constantly teaching her son about that outer world which he has never seen. She does

it very largely by drawing him pictures. With her pencil she attempts to show him what

fields, rivers, mountains, cities and waves on a beach are like. He is a dutiful boy and he

does his best to believe her when she tells him that that outer world is far more interesting

and glorious than anything in the dungeon. At times he succeeds. On the whole he gets on

tolerably well until, one day, he says something that gives his mother pause. For a minute

or two they are at cross-purposes. Finally it dawns on her that he has, all these years, lived

under a misconception. ‘But,’ she gasps, ‘you didn’t think that the real world was full of

lines drawn in lead pencil?’ ‘What?’ says the boy. ‘No pencil marks there?’ And instantly,

his whole notion of the outer world becomes a blank. For the lines, by which alone he was

imagining it, have now been denied of it. He has no idea of that which will exclude and

dispense with the lines, that of which the lines were merely a transposition—the waving

treetops, the light dancing on the weir, the colored three-dimensional realities which are

not enclosed in lines but define their own shapes at every moment with a delicacy and

multiplicity which no drawing could ever achieve. The child will get the idea that the real

world is somehow less visible than his mother’s pictures. In reality it lacks lines because it is

incomparably more visible….  Our natural experiences (sensory, emotional, imaginative) are

only like the drawing, like penciled lines on flat paper. If they vanish in the risen life, they

will vanish only as pencil lines vanish from the real landscape; not as a candle flame that is

put out but as a candle flame which becomes invisible because someone has pulled up the

blind, thrown open the shutters, and let in the blaze of the risen sun.

Living in the knowledge of the truth is living beyond the dungeon walls of what we know or understand.  What made sense in the dungeon walls no longer makes sense when we are exposed to the living knowledge of the truth.  Though we live in the walls of this world, our reality is no longer curtailed to the understanding of the world.

 "If you belonged to the world, it would love you as it’s own.  As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world.  That is why the world hates you.” John 15:19

Wisdom

“Happy is a person who finds wisdom and gains understanding.  For the profit of wisdom is better than silver, and her wages are better than gold.  Wisdom is more precious than rubies; nothing you desire can compare with her. She offers you life in her right hand, and riches and honor in her left.  She will guide you down delightful paths; happy are those who hold her tightly.   By wisdom the LORD founded the earth; by understanding he established the heavens.   By his knowledge the deep fountains of earth burst forth, and the clouds poured down rain.”  Proverbs 3:14-20

Wisdom, how opposite it is of what most of us think.  It is not some old hardened well- educated chap that has seen, heard, and experienced it all. 

For wisdom is a child, you come by her through the Gate (Jesus Christ), and she grabs your hand and pulls you in- to green hills and lush green forests to the left.  You discover as you step through the Gate, you are no longer your age but a child.  Energy and a gleeful delight fills your soul and bubbles up as you both run like the wind.  Oh the joy of those who find wisdom and take hold of her.  

Jesus said to his disciples,

“Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.” Matthew 18:3

I would say as we mature as children of God our reality has no place to sleep and rest on the things of this world but in God alone.  And there the banquets of fruit are produced and fill the tables of heaven.

The foxes that spoil the vine, the things of the fallen world and fallen understanding, are caught and they are seen/exposed for what they are- they are things that ruin what God wants to grow and prosper in our lives.

Every single day of this life we stand at a door, knowingly or unknowingly, where God asks, “Are you going to come in? Are you going to allow me to show you a better way to live?”

Jesus said,” The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.” John 10:10

The thief is the master of trickery…

Who would think by letting go of your life you would save it or even find it but the thief wants you to keep it -that you might save it but you know what Jesus says,

“If you cling to your life, you will lose it; but if you give up your life for me, you will find it.” Matthew 10:39

As I thought about this I wondered how often does our understandings often collides with God’s will in our life because we haven’t surrendered it to Him fully. 

Later I was reminded of a one of the books in my bed stand.  It’s a book written by Thomas a Kempis, called “The imitation of Christ”.

I looked at the table contents where I saw the title, “Pure and Entire Resignation of Self to Obtain Freedom of Heart”.

I turned there (page 98)

The Voice of Christ

My Child, renounce self and you shall find Me.  Give up your own self-will, your possessions, and you shall always gain.  For once you resign yourself irrevocably, greater grace will be given you.

The Disciple

How often, Lord, shall I resign myself? And in what shall I forsake myself?

The Voice of Christ

Always, at every hour, in small matters as well as great- I except nothing.  In all things I wish you be stripped of self.  How otherwise can you be mine or I be yours unless you be despoiled of (deprived/ relieved) of your own will (disposition, bias, preference, partiality) both inwardly and outwardly? The sooner you do this the better it will be for you, and the more fully and sincerely you do it the more you will please Me and the greater gain you will merit. Some there are who resign themselves, but with certain reservation; they do not trust fully in God and therefore they will try to provide for themselves.  Others, again, at first offer all, but afterward are assailed by temptation and return to what they have renounced, thereby making no progress in virtue (morality, integrity, righteousness, purity, goodness).  These will not reach the true liberty of a pure heart nor the grace of happy friendship with Me unless they first make a full resignation and daily sacrifice of themselves.  Without this no fruitful notion lasts nor will last.  I have said to you very often, and now I say again: forsake yourself, renounce yourself, and you shall enjoy great inward peace.  Give all for all.  Ask nothing, demand nothing in return.  Trust purely and without hesitation in Me, and you shall possess Me.  You will be free of heart and the darkness will not overwhelm you. Strive for this, pray for this, desire this- to be stripped of all selfishness and naked to follow the naked Jesus, to die to self and live forever for Me.   Then all vain imaginations, all wicked disturbances and superfluous cares will vanish.  Then also immoderate (heavy, unrestrained, reckless, unwarranted, unbridled) fear will leave you and inordinate (excessive care for self which causes unrestrained feelings or behavior) love will die.

To come/live in the knowledge of the truth we must let go/resign/surrender ourselves completely to the LORD in all matters in life that we might exist/abide/live- liberated in CHRIST JESUS (who is the way, the truth and the life) – John 14:6.

Nothing exists without Him, no power, no peace, no life, no knowledge of the truth, no liberation, no resurrection, no fullness of life, nothing satisfying exists without Him.

No wonder why John wrote;

^“ In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. ” John 1:4-5

MORE THEN I CAN BE

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MORE THEN I CAN BE

Rolf U. Lovland wrote: “You raise me up, so I can stand on mountains; you raise me up, to walk on stormy seas; I am strong, when I am on your shoulders; you raise me up… to more then I can be.”

WHO can raise us to more then I can be?  GOD of course but how often do we fail to grasp this?

WHO builds you up?   ARE they the temporary things in life or GOD?     

The wick of “this” life is only so long… and what footprint will last in a world that will one day come to nothing?  Can you build upon something that will become nothing?

“Look! I am creating new heavens and a new earth, and no one will even think about the old ones anymore.” ISAIAH 65:17

“Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the old heaven and the old earth had disappeared. And the sea was also gone.” REVELATION 21:1

God wants to raise us up to more then we thought possible… in HIM!

Ever felt anxiety, depressed, oppressed, worried, fearful, inadequate, spiritually hungry and thirsty?  

WHERE was your focus? Was it on the temporary?  What mental theme “music” was playing in your day?  Who’s shoulders did you place that enormous weight or burden?  

Was the day being “colored in” by what you understand, perceived, judged, and even felt?  Where was the emphasis on?  Why the bias?  What tainted and grayed your skies?

WHO is the BUILDER?

“Unless the Lord builds the house, those who build it labor in vain.
Unless the Lord watches over the city, the watchman stays awake in vain.
It is in vain that you rise up early and go late to rest, eating the bread of anxious toil; for he gives to his beloved sleep. Psalm 127:1-2

Ever ask, “Where is that enormous immoveable foundation that my life is suppose to be standing on?”  Nothing has changed- God is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow so why do I feel the way I do?  You look at the structure that surrounds you.  You have stacked every bail of hay and nailed every board and put stucco on the outside.   You even thatched the roof.   You did this!  But…. but why isn’t there more of this sense of accomplishment and pride in your work?  Why isn’t this any encouragement to you? Shouldn’t this boost your esteem?   It is then when your eyes fall to the trim along the floor you remember.  The trim is made of the purest gold.  It was the finest work in the entire the house.  It wasn’t you doing the work there but GOD doing this work through you.  It was a relationship and partnership with GOD that did this…   You stand and look a bit at all you have built.  A glowing smile then emerges on your face as you utter these words, “Yes, indeed it is time for some changes.  GOD will you help me?” 

Then as if there was no time to waste a curious wind comes…. It carries away the thatched roof and then simultaneously all four walls are taken away as well.  The only two things that are left is the foundation that he stood you upon when you came to Christ and the fine golden trim. 

Jesus, the architect of heaven and earth then comes.  He smiles and says, “Come let’s continue to build something lasting together.”

Is it a fortress? Is it a villa?  Is it high tower?  You never know unless you build with him….  But the more important question that needs to be seated firmly in our soul and consciousness is, “Is our life ours or HIS?”  Do we labor in vain thinking it’s ours?”

Anyone who builds on that foundation may use a variety of materials—gold, silver, jewels, wood, hay, or straw. But on the judgment day, fire will reveal what kind of work each builder has done. The fire will show if a person’s work has any value.  If the work survives, that builder will receive a reward. But if the work is burned up, the builder will suffer great loss. The builder will be saved, but like someone barely escaping through a wall of flames.  1 Corinthians 3:12-15

God the Creator does not grow tired and weary but we do.

“Do you not know? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom.” ISAIAH 40:28

Jesus said,  “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.  Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.” Matthew 11:28-30

REST FOR OUR SOULS IN THE EVERLASTING

Nothing is more “stabilizing” to our soul then our relationship with our everlasting GOD, JESUS CHRIST.  For the “things” of this life are only temporary but GOD is CONSTANT and FOREVER!

Rest for our soul comes when we “switch” yokes or understandings -realizing in whom we truly belong.  We stop yielding to our own understandings and what the world wants to oppress and impress upon us to yield to God’s Holy Spirit who wants us to realize and come to the “satisfying” reality in HIM. 

Our limited understanding and the world’s corruption constantly yanks us this way and that way by whatever comes and goes but by submitting to God there is no tide of in and out just peace.    

Temptations are those tides in the sea of understanding.  They are not just lusts of the flesh but also things that tempt us to fear, have anxiety, doubt, and give into oppression and peer pressure.  They are things that want to take God’s rightful seat in our hearts, minds, and souls.

James 1:6 speaks of this “... Do not waver, for a person with divided loyalty is as unsettled as a wave of the sea that is blown and tossed by the wind.”   

But I believe these things meant for evil also help us- they secure what was weak -building a stronger taller wall.  They dig a deeper divide.  They cause us to put less emphasis on the things of this life and more on GOD.  They give us a stronger deeper confident resolve in GOD.      

So knowing this, we strive to let go and let God, we strive to put our trust in God over our own understandings and what is happening around us in the great hope of becoming all that God wants us to become…

I don’t know about you but I can be hard on myself.  I don’t know if it is deserved or undeserved but I do know this one thing…. free from me is good for me. 

The Spirit of GOD allows us to be free from our worst critic, our most harsh observer, and overbearing judge- ourselves.  He allows us to see how great God’s grace is and allows us to be empowered by that grace realizing where life is meant to be lived.              

People are constantly looking for the way, the truth and a life to be satisfied, to be fulfilled, to be free, to be healed, to be content, to be more then just a stuffed suitcase with no where to go.  They are looking to be more then they can be.

JESUS says point blank:  “I am the way, the truth, and the life.  No one comes to the Father except through Me.” JOHN 14:6

JESUS was the one who created you and I.  So being made by HIM, how could we ever be satisfied without HIM?  How could we ever feel comforted and encouraged without HIM?  How could we ever feel secure without Him?  How could we be something more then we think of ourselves without Him?

I have asked this question (probably more then once), “What is the purpose of this life?”  And the answer I receive is, “To know God.”   I believe and know that without God we are just a bunch of souls wandering around in the dark and there is no point.  

BUT seeing that JESUS holds LIFE and IS LIFE itself really changes our perceptive on life.

LIFE was always supposed to be a RELATIONSHIP with GOD.   Life is a relationship with JESUS, the EVERLASTING God.

HOW DEAR TO YOU HOLD YOUR LIFE?

“But I do not consider my life in any account as dear to myself, so that I may finish my course and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify solemnly of the gospel of the grace of God.” ACTS 20:24

Sometimes we can hold our life with such a tight grip…  But if we realized whom really holds our life we might just find life more abundantly.

“The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.” John 10:10

The thief wants to convince us of what exactly?  Why doesn’t he want us to let go and let God?  Why doesn’t he want us pry our fingers loose from our life?  What does the thief, Satan, have to lose?  What greater confidence can we find in GOD if we do this? What ministry do we have to gain?    

Everyday it is a decision to let the SPIRIT have control or the FLESH.  It’s as if within ourselves we have a green meadow and before us a great horse.   The SPIRIT represents the great horse.  The SPIRIT is wild compared to our understanding but he was meant for us to ride.   It is our decision to either walk away or get on.  Hopefully everyday is a “ride” day for you.  But it seems that before we ride the wild stallion we sit and wait in the green lush grass.  The wild horse with no bridle or reigns then comes seeing our submitted way and we respectfully get on.  

Sometimes it’s a casual ride seeing and noticing things we had never seen/thought before, sometimes it’s experiencing to new heights, sometimes it’s riding behind a veil of deeper truths and sometimes it’s a ride in total abandonment.

“This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: ‘Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,’ Says the Lord of hosts.”  Zachariah 4:6

IS GOD OUR INFLUENCER? 

Is life only good depending on what day it is, when the sun is shining, your health is good and you have money in your pockets to spend?   OR is life good because you know GOD is with you?  

2 Corinthians 12:10 says “For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities.  For when I am weak, then I am strong.”

The Apostle Paul was physically a prisoner because of his faith in Christ Jesus yet prison life and punishment and torture were just “symptoms” or “conditions of this life.  They weren’t who he was for he was a Child of GOD. 

What earthly temporary things do you allow to be influencers over your life focus- stopping you from being all that GOD wants to help you to be?  God wants us to realize the FULLNESS of life in HIM regardless of the circumstances.

What things do you allow to manipulate you?     

I had a friend die of an incurable form of cancer that slowly shut down her body yet while she was here she said, “life was good” not because of her circumstances but because she continually felt the reassuring presence of God despite all the painful difficulties.

We think life is in our circumstances or conditions but is it? 

May GOD help us abide in a trusting confident relationship in HIM that we may sail over crippling and debilitating understandings that make us feel less then how GOD sees us and created us to be.  

Psalm 18:18 says “They confronted me in the day of my calamity, but the LORD was my support.”

WE are GOD’s children if we have given our life to JESUS CHRIST.  The world loves to label people but as a child of GOD- circumstances, troubles and calamities can have no ownership over us.  Remember where your names are written and are registered. 

“But don't rejoice because evil spirits obey you; rejoice because your names are registered in heaven." LUKE 10:20

REVELATION 3:5 ”The one who is victorious will, like them, be dressed in white. I will never blot out the name of that person from the book of life, but will acknowledge that name before my Father and his angels.

Our names may mean nothing in this world but they mean something where it matters most.

These Last Days pt.6

Tempted to Retaliate

The world's mentality is an Eye for an Eye.  Revenge is sweet.  They did it to me so I can do it back to them.   It's, "seek our own type of justice and even "vigilante" justice.  Many Hollywood movies and television shows play into this type of thinking but the word of God says:

"Don't copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think.   Then you will learn to know God's will for you, which is good, pleasing and perfect." Romans 12:2  

Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how often should I forgive someone who sins against me? Seven times? 
“No, not seven times,” Jesus replied, “but seventy times seven!” Matthew 18:21-22

When we are tempted to act on the flesh - see what is tugging at the other end.      

“No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it”.  1 Corinthians 10:13

“Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.” Hebrews 2:18

“But you must be Holy in everything you do, just as God who chose you is holy.” 1 Peter 1:15

Mindset  

If we can imagine for moment… Jesus has been beaten and nailed to the cross by the very men he is going to the cross for.  And Jesus says with no partiality, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” Luke 23:34

James 3:17 says, “But the wisdom that is from heaven is first of all pure.  It is also peace loving, gentle at all times, and willing to yield to others.  It is full of mercy and good deeds.  It shows no partiality and is always sincere.”

We are not to gratify our own flesh by physical vengeance and/or harden verbal words of discontent but do as Jesus did. NOTE: Galatians 5:16

“So get rid of all evil behavior.  Be done with all deceit, hypocrisy, jealousy, and all unkind speech.”  1 Peter 2:1

“For it is God’s will and intention that by doing right [your good and honest lives] should silence (muzzle, gag) the ignorant charges and ill-informed criticisms of foolish persons. [Live] as free people, [yet] without employing your freedom as a pretext for wickedness; but [live at all times] as servants of God.” 1 Peter 2:15-16 (AMP)

Jesus said, “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’  But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.  If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that?  And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.  Matthew 5:43-48

“In your anger do not sin”: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, ²⁷ and do not give the devil a foothold. “  Ephesians 4:26-27

Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. James 4:7

Never Being Disgraced

1 Peter 2:5-6 “And you are living stones that God is building into his spiritual temple.  What’s more, you are his holy priests.  Through the mediation of Jesus Christ, you offer spiritual sacrifices that please God. As the Scriptures say, “I am placing a cornerstone in Jerusalem, chosen for great honor, and anyone who trusts in him will never be disgraced.”

Jesus says, “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden.  Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand,  and it gives light to everyone in the house.   In the same way, let your lightshine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.” Matthew 5:14-16

I am finding there are those who simply don't care about right and wrong anymore.  They don't care if their actions are evil.  They are going to do what they want to do regardless.   You have probably found the same but it doesn't matter what they do- you and I have do right.  Pray fro those who do wrong that they may come to God.

 John 3:19 "And the judgment is based on this fact: God’s light came into the world, but people loved the darkness more than the light, for their actions were evil."