Blog Home » Christian Walk with God » Perspective in Hardships » Don’t Just Survive, Thrive: Need for Perspective

Don’t Just Survive, Thrive: Need for Perspective

Share:

I’m sure you would agree that in today’s world we need a healthy perspective if we are going to not only survive but thrive.  The comfort and encouragement of others will only take us so far.  We need to make some semblance of sense of our world.

Encarta’s World English Dictionary defines perspective as:

1) a particular evaluation of something

2) a measured or objective assessment of a situation

The most reliable source for perspective is God’s Word.

So often we struggle in life because we are viewing life from a skewed perspective. The most reliable source of objectivity is God’s Word. The Bible is the basis upon which our situations must be measured or evaluated.

Sometimes, however, we can know the truth in our heads but it doesn’t always sink deep into our hearts and manifest itself in our reactions and decisions.

What will help get truth from our heads to our hearts during times of crisis?

repeated exposure to truth

God tells us to meditate on Him and His Word so that with repeated exposure, through His Spirit, the truth begins to take root not only in our heads but also in our hearts. 40 Day Challenges are usually rooted in this understanding of what it takes to drive truth home.

deliberate choices regardless of feelings

Sometimes it comes down to making a deliberate, conscientious choice to pattern what we do after the Lord regardless of our feelings or personal bents.  Perspective requires assessment against an objective standard, not simply going with the flow or with what “feels” right.  At no time should we hide behind our personalities or conditioning as an excuse to stay where we are or sin.  Healthy perspective is rooted in God and His Word, not in us.  When our perspective is patterned after Him, He doesn’t eradicate what is uniquely us.  Rather, He transforms it into something even better.  When we act on what we know to be true, regardless of feelings, we see God’s faithfulness which helps to generate a heart response.

If you need help gaining perspective, perhaps some of the books listed below will help.  Clicking on a title will take you to our affiliate store where you can learn more about the book.

If you are a Bible Teacher, help your students gain perspective. The worksheet, Crisis Strikes, gives you a few tips on how to help students turn to the Lord with their anxieties.  You can be instrumental in helping them not only survive but thrive.

If you struggle with objectively assessing situations, download the free 40 Day Challenge to Maintaining a Healthy Perspective.

Share:

2 Replies to “Don’t Just Survive, Thrive: Need for Perspective”

  1. I am called into the ministry as a priest. My spiritual gifts are many, but helping others according to God’s words is the strongest gift. I’m searching God’s Wisdom in Christian Counseling. Thank you for doing the will of God.

    • Minister Gross, God and His Word certainly is the best help we can point people to as we come alongside of them. If you go to the People Helping Ministry Resources page, you’ll find a ‘Counseling’ tab. Under that you will find a list of articles and books that can be of help to you in Christian Counseling. For even more, you might want to check out the organization listed under that tab, the American Association of Christian Counselors.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published but may be used to contact you of any responses to your comment. Spam, requests for free material, and promotional info will not be posted; nor will a response be forthcoming. Required fields are marked *

*