PERSPECTIVE

Proper perspective brings us to the place where we trust God and others with who we are and frees us to be our authentic selves. Heliotropism is the tendency of plants to turn towards sunlight, a vital component for growth. They don’t have an option. Plants, instinctively turn to the sun. We are also created to turn to God, to draw on Him for every need. But in rebellion we can turn away, seeking to fill our longing with other, lesser things. Perspective is important because it impacts our ability to grow. A wrong perspective can keep us stuck, holding us back from moving into our God-given purpose and potential. Turning to God brings a right perspective and ushers us into a place of freedom and trust.

Perspective is an evaluation of a situation or facts, especially from one person’s point of view. Perspective is having a profound understanding of who we are and an even greater reality of Who Christ is. As we gain insight, perspective speaks to the question, “Who am I?” and expands it to the statement, “Whose I am.” The question is about identity, but the declaration is about security. We trust God to challenge wrong perspectives, reveal lies, and lead us to the truth because we belong to Him. Proverbs 3:5 AMP tells us to, “Trust in and rely confidently on the LORD with all your heart, And do not rely on your own insight or understanding. In all your ways know and acknowledge and recognize Him, And He will make your paths straight and smooth [removing obstacles that block your way].” Trusting God is not contingent on our ability to understand. God can reshape our perspective and set us free to be all He created us to be.

A limited perspective can make it difficult to see the momentous work taking place. At times, we can only see in slivers of dimmest shades, fragments of the grand masterpiece God is working in our lives. When God gazes on us He already has the finished product in view. We, however, struggle to grasp the consequence.

Perspective can be complicated. Our life experiences can render us a view of self that is limited, incomplete, and sometimes totally false. A wrong perspective can keep us stuck, holding us back from moving into our potential and fulfilling our purpose. We have a heavenly Father who longs for us to experience extravagant intimacy and we have a very real enemy who longs to see us destroyed. We must be careful that our perspective aligns with God’s perspective revealed in His Word. This brings us to the place where we trust God and others with who we are. It frees us to be our authentic selves.