There are many ways of thinking that can hamper our joy and can cause us to lose perspective. One of those ways of thinking for me is that I focus
and dwell on the difficult events and/or circumstances in such a way that knocks the wind out of my sails. I also become so distracted in my grief that I end up losing hope for a period of time which begins to infringe upon my eternal perspective.
My
circumstances shape my attitude and my attitude effects me and the people around
me. I have so
often regretted the times
I lose sight of my true purpose because it crushes the joy out of me and others that
I love. I wish I could always view life with the end
in mind. What really begins to help me is knowing that I exist in a world that is out of my control but completely in line with God’s plan and His control.
There
are times I would love to be the architect of my own life, in control of the
events that surround
me
each day. I have this desire to be the author and designer of my own personal time line. Yet, when I’ve tried to control the events in my
life, I realize that I have created despair and disappointment for myself because the stories I begin to write with my
personalized pen, always seem to run out of ink at the
times I want to finish the chapter with a "Dave" filled happy ending.
The Truth is this: God
is going to finish our story for us. In fact he already has for all mankind. The Bible makes it very clear how the story is going to end. The
best part is there truly is a “happy” ending. For believers there is joy for
all eternity. Wow, I can’t even imagine everlasting joy because of my limitations based
on my human perspective and lifetime of experiences that wreak of despair. I also can’t even begin to imagine what heaven will be like. And that’s
good for me because I could never create a Heaven as good as
God has with His unique and amazing mind for beauty combined with His infinite wisdom and unfailing love.
Remember this: Followers of Jesus have a hope and a future. We need to daily remind ourselves
of God’s promises and think back about what Jesus did to help the sick and broken. With the help of the Holy Spirit, which believers are now connected to in a deep and personal way, events and
circumstances of our lives that tend to knock us down, cannot defeat us,. We have victory in Christ. We have a hope and a future. Our labor for God's kingdom is not in vain.
1 Corinthians 15:56-58 New International Version 1984
The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.
One
of the promises Jesus told us about, before His ascension into heaven, was
that the Holy Spirit
would come and
indwell in his followers to guide
them, teach them and comfort them throughout life’s difficult twists and turns.
Jesus
Said these things about the Holy Spirit:
John 14:16-18
"I
will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may be with
you forever; the Spirit
of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because
it does not behold Him or know Him, but you know
Him because He abides with
you, and will be in you. I will not leave you as orphans; I
will come to you."
John 14:26
"The
Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach
you all things, and
bring to your remembrance all that I said to you."
John 16:13
"When
He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth; for He
will not speak on His
own initiative, but whatever He hears, He
will speak; and He will disclose to you what is to come."
Being
filled with the Holy Spirit is one of
the strongest pieces of evidence
that I have in my life to remind
me that God is real. In a world that is
constantly trying to tell me that my faith is foolishness, I am
reminded that I
have the evidence that proves Jesus was telling the truth about who He was and what He
was going to do.The Holy Spirit Himself confirms this for me.
To gather even more strength to build upon my faith, I read the Bible and pray. Through prayer and God's Word I connect directly with God’s wisdom and truth. God's Word is alive and inspires me to trust Him more and more. Along with the Holy Spirit, I can live out each day with
real guidance as my heart and my thoughts are directed toward the things of God. What God has provided for me is the real help I need to refocus my life on the big picture which always has purpose in light of
eternity. What I know for sure is God's Word is the real source of all truth and eternal perspective.
The importance of God's Word in a believer's life:
2 Timothy 3:16-17 New International Version 1984
so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.
Hebrews 4:12 New Living Translation
For
the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest
two-edged sword, cutting
between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires.
between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires.
Psalm 119:105 New Living Translation
Your word is a lamp to guide my feet and a light for my path.
In conclusion, there is one true great architect when it comes to life and that is God, our Savior Jesus Christ. Only through His strength and perspective can we live a joyful and abundant life. Only through His work do we have the eternal life. real forgiveness and real hope. So when it comes to our own thoughts let's take to heart this passage:
Hebrews 12:1-3 New International Version 1984
Therefore,
since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us
throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles,
and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart
Just Sayin.......................Dave
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