Hello! I hope you had a great weekend serving Jesus!
This week’s devotion is “Perspective is Everything” written by Stephanie Miller! Please take the time to read as she shares her heart with us!
Let’s make it a fabulous week!
Perspective is Everything ~ Stephanie Miller
Exodus 14-16
When I was a little girl, I remember having an adventurous spirit! I remember approaching everything with a sense of boldness and excitement. Whether it was climbing to the very tops of the trees in our yard, hiking to the farthest waterfall in Yosemite Valley, or even exploring the woods to see what I could find. Nothing seemed to scare me. Of course, I always had one of my brothers or sisters with me, but I like to think that I would have done those things even if my family hadn’t been with me.
A lot has happened to the adventurous little girl who once didn’t have a care in the world and loved climbing trees. Almost thirty years of living have happened. Where once I saw adventure in climbing a tree, I now see a way to fall and break my ankle. Even though I still love to hike, the farthest waterfall is no longer my first choice of places to go. I have come to realize that every hill I go down must be hiked back up. Staying on the trails has become much safer than galivanting off into the woods. In fact, I now prefer the calming oceanside to the adventurous mountainside.
As I consider the differences between the young me and the “older” me, I can’t help but think about what has changed. The trees I once climbed have not doubled in size, the waterfalls have not changed location, and the woods I used to freely roam have not suddenly become dangerous. What changed was my perspective. The thirty years of experience have helped to shape my perspective into what it is today. And whether we like it or not, our perspective often determines our response.
If our perspective determines our response, then there are a few things that we must understand to have the right perspective.
Our focus shapes our perspective
Exodus 14 – Moses has led the children of Israel out of Egypt, and they are now encamped at the Red Sea. The Lord hardens Pharoah’s heart, he gathers his army and pursues after the Israelites. As soon as the children of Israel see the approaching army they cry out to the Lord and begin complaining to Moses accusing him of bringing them out of Egypt to die.
What happened?
They allowed Fear to become their focus.
Fear kept the Israelites from seeing and remembering all the wonderful works they had just seen God do on their behalf.
They allowed the enemy to become their focus.
God was still with them. He never left. The pillar of cloud was still there, they just stopped focusing on God and started focusing on the enemy.
If we want to make sure that we keep the right perspective, then we need to keep our focus on what matters and remember that the same God that saved us is the same God that will stay with us. Too often we miss seeing what God can do because we are focused on the wrong things.
Our desire shapes our perspective.
Exodus 15 – Moses and the children of Israel had just seen God do a great work on their behalf. The Egyptian army was defeated, and they were praising the Lord for His greatness. Just three days after this great victory the children of Israel were once again found complaining to Moses. This time it was about something much smaller; they wanted water.
Although what they desired wasn’t bad, they allowed themselves to become consumed with their desire. Because of this, they completely left God out of the equation. In Exodus 14 we are told that the first thing they did was call out to God, while in Exodus 15 they skipped God completely and went straight to complaining to Moses.
How many times have we, being consumed with our desire for something specific, completely skipped over God and His plan for our lives?
Often, God will use difficult situations to shape or teach us, so that we can be used by Him. When we allow our desires to trump God’s plan, we miss out on seeing God work specifically in our lives, and we may have to be tested again.
Do we see difficulties as opportunities to grow and learn, or as roadblocks that are holding us back?
What we must understand is that life experience is by no means an excuse for having a wrong response to any situation in life. We cannot allow our experiences to shape our perspective. God has already given us everything we need to keep the right perspective no matter the circumstance.
“Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.” Philippians 4:8-9
Before we respond to any situation, we must check our perspective. If we don’t have the right perspective, we won’t have the right response.
Perspective is Everything!
https://www.sappsolutely.com/devotions/perspective-is-everything-stephanie-miller
If this encouraged you, you can find more encouragement in my Devotionals section.