Perspective…..mine or God’s?
Our perspective on life, whether temporal or eternal, will determine the rules by which we play, our ethics, our standards and character. It also determines our source of hope, provision and many times, the difference between obedience and disobedience to God’s precepts and principles. Perspective determines our attitudes toward others, especially those who do not know the Lord.
Psalms 37 teaches us the wisdom of adopting God’s perspective of life rather than our own. If we will adopt God’s way of “seeing things” we can embrace His purposes and put order to the affairs of our lives. We can REST in Him! Hebrews 4:11
Psalms 37:1-2 instructs us to “fret not because of the evildoers and do not be envious of them.” We see evil get the upper hand in so many places in our society. It is true the wicked often prosper while the people of God may sometimes suffer at their hands. Their attitudes are arrogant and mocking of the values we embrace. On the other hand, God shows us what happens to those who refuse to acknowledge Him. They may prosper in this world but Galatians 6:7-8 says this is temporary. God will not be mocked. What ever a man sows, that shall he reap. The wicked put their trust in themselves while the righteous are called to place (by faith!) their confidence and hope in the character and promises of God. If we embrace the wisdom of Psalms 37:1-2, we must cling to the goodness of and embrace the sovereignty of the One who “causes all things to work together for good for those who love Him, to those who are the called according to His purpose“. Romans 8:28
Psalms 37:3 tells us to “delight ourselves in the Lord.” What does this mean? It means spend time with Him; spend time in the Word and let Holy Spirit teach us the truth according to the way God sees it. Spend time talking to Him and make it a two way conversation. Draw near to Lord. Let the nearness of God be your good; cultivate intimacy with Him. (Psalms 73:78) If we seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, all other things will be added to us! (Matt. 6:33) What a wonderful promise!
Psalms 37:4 advises us to commit our way to the Lord and He will give us the desires of our heart. It is wisdom to give everything from our family members, our jobs, our hopes, dreams, our children, our problems to our relationship with Him to Him! He can do so much more with our ways than we can. Such good comes out of this decision! We must remember that we only get to keep what we give to the Lord. God shows His amazing love by how He blesses us and then He puts His desires in our hearts! “Commit your works to the Lord and your thoughts shall be established.” Proverbs 16:3
Psalms 37:5 cautions us to “wait for the Lord.” God has His own timing for every season in our lives. It’s never our timing. We tend to grow impatient, frustrated and anxious with the adversities of life while we are waiting for God to “come through” for us. However, God is a God who desires to bless everyone. He may choose to use this time of “waiting” to teach us even more how to perceive this life as He perceives it. If we trust Him for our very salvation, we must also trust His timing. We must “humble ourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may lift us up in due time.” I Peter 5:6
Perspective? Perspective is everything, especially when we practice seeing our lives and ourselves through His eyes. When we see through His eyes, we can truly rest in Him.
