Change Your Perspective

One’s attitudes, emotions, character and behavior is deeply influenced by one’s perspective on life. An author once said “Sometimes God wants us to look at our circumstances through a new perspective… His perspective.”

In 2 Kings 6:8-23, we read the story of the king of Syria trying to seize Elisha since he used to thwart his plan of attacking Israel and its king. We see the same situation being perceived by 2 different people in a radically different perspective. Elisha, the man of God, wasn't startled by what his naked eyes perceived but when his servant saw the army of horses and chariots surrounding the entire city, he was gripped with terror. The fear seized him to such a great extent that he thought there was no way out and may have lost all hopes of existence.

12 And one of his servants said, “None, my lord, O king; but Elisha, the prophet who is in Israel, tells the king of Israel the words that you speak in your bedroom.” 13 And he said, “Go and see where he is, that I may send and seize him.” It was told him, “Behold, he is in Dothan.” 14 So he sent there horses and chariots and a great army, and they came by night and surrounded the city.

15 When the servant of the man of God rose early in the morning and went out, behold, an army with horses and chariots was all around the city. And the servant said, “Alas, my master! What shall we do?”

16 He said, “Do not be afraid, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them.” 17 Then Elisha prayed and said, “O Lord, please open his eyes that he may see.” So the Lord opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw, and behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.

Often our outlook is like this servant of Elisha where we are overwhelmed by what our eyes see and our ears hear. We are blinded in our vision and cannot see through the lens of God. Doubts and unbelief then tries to take hold of our lives and navigate us through emotions which we are unable to control. When we find ourselves in such situations, instead of being disturbed in spirit, let us pray like Elisha and ask God to open our eyes to see and understand what is beyond human vision. That will unlock the doors to be confident and find strength in seasons of uncertainties.

It’s when we elevate our problems and evil forces above God, that fear strangles us and blurs our vision. But when we realize and confess our faith like Elisha “ Do not be afraid, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them”, you will start to understand the divine protection in your life and your perspective about life changes.

When the servant’s inner eyes were opened, the king’s horses and chariots surrounding the city didn’t disappear from his vision but he was able to look beyond that and saw that the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha. Receiving a new perspective through prayer, spending time in God’s Word and walking with God wouldn’t take the problems from our life, but instead it will give us the boldness to face the tomorrow.

When you are faced with disappointments and you hit rock bottom in your spiritual life, remind yourself “ Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.” 1 John 4:4

Romans 8: 37- 39 instructs us : 37 “No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

When we look at the incident recorded in Matthew 14: 22-33 of Jesus walking on water, we see a continual transition occurring to Peter’s perspective. 23 Later that night, he was there alone, 24 and the boat was already a considerable distance from land, buffeted by the waves because the wind was against it.

25 Shortly before dawn Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake.26 When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. “It’s a ghost,” they said, and cried out in fear.

When all that he could see was darkness, the rough waters and the gusty wind, immediately he fell into a state of extreme fear that made him unable to even recognize his Master who walked on the waters. Although Peter had mastered the sea for many years and it could be even referred to as his second home, yet his emotional and spiritual vision was blurred when he was faced with a difficult situation because his eyes were fixed on the rough sea rather than its Creator.

27 But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.”

28 “Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.”

29 “Come,” he said.

Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. 30 But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!”

But at Jesus' words, he received a new perspective fused with a new courage. Instantly his perception changed from the raging waves to the Creator of the winds and waves. In times of hardships and narrow paths that life takes us through, are we beaten to our knees and disgusted with life and living? Jesus reminds us not to be afraid and instead to take courage. Let this new perspective sink deep within you that God is with you through it all. And with God by your side, you will not dwell in constant fear seeing the turbulence around you, but instead you will trample the uncertainties under your feet through faith. Although every stronghold that you have in this world may shake, our God is our eternal stronghold that cannot be shaken.

Isaiah 26: 3-4 : “You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you. Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord, the Lord himself, is the Rock eternal.”

It’s when Peter’s focus and perception again shifted to the stormy wind that he began to sink. If we repeatedly shift our attention from God and His Word, our faith would plummet and we will begin to sink in our spiritual walk with God. This deterioration will soon disperse to affect our health, our behavior and our emotions. Therefore, let us fix our eyes upon Jesus in all seasons of our life.

We will be amazed to see David’s perspective while he fought the battle with Goliath as recorded in 1 Samuel 17. When the entire Israelite army trembled with fear as they saw Goliath, David the shepherd boy stayed strong and had the courage to take down this Philistian champion named Goliath. While the entire army focussed only on Goliath’s physique, his coat of scale armor, bronze helmet and the frightening weapons that he possessed, David’s mind was disturbed since Goliath constantly defied the armies of the living God. This shows how his perspective was completely different from all the other Israelites. Even when the king of Israel doubted in David's ability to kill Goliath, his perspective never wavered and he didn’t let doubt reign in his heart.

1 Samuel 17: 33 Saul replied, “You are not able to go out against this Philistine and fight him; you are only a young man, and he has been a warrior from his youth.”

Instead he started recalling all the ways in the past that God protected him and gave him success and this started to define his identity and build his faith. While others elevated the appearance of their enemy, David elevated the power of the God who saved him.

36 “Your servant has killed both the lion and the bear; this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them, because he has defied the armies of the living God. 37 The Lord who rescued me from the paw of the lion and the paw of the bear will rescue me from the hand of this Philistine.”

45 David said to the Philistine, “You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the Lord Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied …”

Even if this world tries to undermine your identity, always remember your spiritual identity in Christ and let the ways God has led you in the past build up faith in you during the pressing times. It was this perspective and his trust in God that led this young man to defeat a giant with just a sling and a stone. His trust in the power of God started defining his actions and his words.

In these trying times, let us pray that God will open our spiritual eyes to see His protection and favor over our lives which will increase our courage and strength. Instead of dwelling in fear, let hope fill our hearts that God is with us, and just like David let our faith be increased in these days recalling God’s goodness in our lives in the past. Let the Word of God define our identity and actions and let not the words from the evil one lead us into doubts and confusion.

"So be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid and do not panic before them. For the Lord your God will personally go ahead of you. He will neither fail you nor abandon you." Deuteronomy 31:6

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