Perplexing Perspective
By Ashlea Ison
December 3, 2001
The alarm, with its shrill
ring, brings me out of my weary-eyed stupor. I know what time it is, yet I still squint at the clock and wonder how 5
a.m. got here so fast. I bring my
hand over to quickly press the snooze button, but then my conscience kicks in - Do
I want to sleep nine extra minutes or do I want to get up and not be rushed?
I view my typical day if I snooze and then I do a quick rundown of that
day if I get up. It’s two very different perspectives. It is an easy decision when I ask both questions, but usually I do not
get to the second question before I’ve already pressed snooze and return to my
weary-eyed stupor.
Webster’s describes perspective
as: “A science, the aspect in
which a subject or its parts are mentally viewed. A view of things in their true relationship or relative importance.”
I’ve heard it said that God should not be at the top or your priority
list because He is not a priority, He is the center-hub of our lives, all else
takes priority after Him. Now that
changed my perspective.
Frankly,
perspective needs to be an ever-changing aspect of our daily lives because God
has so many facets, so much character. How dare I ever become bored with Him!
If bored, I am showing personal blandness and my own lack of character. Oh, to be influenced by the character of Christ!
If we are made in God’s image, what an insult to deny Him areas of our
mind and heart to explore and change our perspective. Our desire and prayer should be a cry for help unto the Lord; show me how
to discover You!
God is an inexhaustive resource
for help in life’s changing situations. Circumstances
have a way of clouding our view and changing our view of who God is and the
power He possesses to change our lives. Whether you’ve been a Christian for a
while or not, you must let there be a seed that is planted and then rooted in
you heart and a mind to seek after God
in all things.
How
many times have we heard that phrase ‘in all things’? This time let your perspective of that phrase change and
become a deep-rooted desire. “All
things” includes:
· My spiritual walk with God;
· My relationships with spouse, family, friends,
boyfriends, girlfriends and co-workers;
· My finances - rent, mortgage, car payments;
· My present and future as represented in school and work;
· Personal setbacks and stresses, be it health problems or
the death of a loved one
You ask His perspective of your current stresses,
and Psalm 139:17 explains that He will impart His very thoughts to you. The next verse states,
“If I should count (His thoughts), they would be more in number than
the sand.” This makes me
realize that God has more answers than I have numbers.
Life has a way of numbing us. It’s like those monotonous e-mails that remind us to not take life for
granted and to pass it on to the millions in the e-mail address book. We believe them with our heart because they say good things, but our head
is where we block it out. Funny
that perspective has to do with my mental view. My pastor made a short statement in his message a few weeks ago,
“You’ve gotta get your head saved!” He
only said it once, but it stuck with me.
Paul
speaks of the process through salvation: “And
be renewed in the spirit of your mind.” (Ephesians 4:23) I submit that in
order to know God and to allow Him to change your perspective, you must allow
this renewing of your mind day by day. So,
I challenge you to find a new way to look at God and He will surely meet you
with a fresh perspective for your life.
ninetyandnine.com
© 2001, Ashlea Ison
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Ashlea
Ison is a
nursing student in the St. Louis Metropolitan area.
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