Perspective

"Our perspective is renewed as we invest in reading and studying God's Word." -Vivan Mabuni 


I love this quote from my SheReadsTruth devotional this week.  Why?  Because my perspective has been "off" as I have started back to school.  My focus has been on everything else that has needed to be done EXCEPT my time with Jesus.

I got all the things on my "to do list" (or most of them) checked off, but as the third week of school rolled around, I knew something in my heart and spirit was lacking.  All the things I was doing were good.  I am helping kids at school, ministering to students, and taking care of my family, but God wants more.

So, I continue to reflect.

Well, I pray on the way to work, as I go to sleep when my heart is burdened, and I read my devotional in the evening after a busy day.  Our spirits-my spirit, was created for more.  We were created for an intimate relationship and fellowship with our Father in Heaven.  I was not having that with him right now and my spirit was feeling it.  I was suffering because of it.

I was slipping back into old habits that through the grace of God, He was helping me overcome.  I was becoming discontent with life and searching for satisfaction in other things instead of God.

God's Word is our food.  We need to feed on it daily.  We are not to "snack" on it but have a balanced meal:  prayer, study, meditation, and application.  When we do this, we are given godly sight to see as God sees.  We are given His wisdom and perspective to live the life He has called us to live.

So what does your diet look like?  Are you snacking or eating a balanced diet?

Matthew 4:4
"But he answered, It is written, "Man shall not eat from bread alone, but from every word that comes from the mouth of God.'"

John 6:35
"Jesus said to them, 'I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me, shall not thirst.'"

English Standard Version, Biblegateway.com

Chosen

So, when God puts a Scripture, or in this case, a book of the Bible in front of you multiple times you take notice.  For me, it is the book of Daniel.  First, the summer camp our middle school students attend, CIY MIX, studied from this book.  Then, the first series we are studying this Fall for middle school small groups is from this book (which I helped write). Lastly, the devotional series I follow, SheReadsTruth, is starting a study in August. 

 So, why Daniel?  Why now?  Those are the questions I have been asking myself.  I have learned there are no coincidences with God.  Everything has a purpose with Him.  So this has a purpose.  This book has a time and a place in my life for right now.

So, I am digging deeper.

Daniel 1:4New Living Translation (NLT)

4 “Select only strong, healthy, and good-looking young men,” he said. “Make sure they are well versed in every branch of learning, are gifted with knowledge and good judgment, and are suited to serve in the royal palace. Train these young men in the language and literature of Babylon.[a]” (Bible Gateway.org)

This is the command given by King Nebuchadnezzar in chapter 1 of Daniel to select boys for his court.  These boys were to be chosen from the captives he had just taken from Judah, not from people from his own land.  Here is the criteria:

1.  Good-looking

2.  Healthy

3.  Strong

4.  Well-versed in every branch of learning  a.k.a-smart in all subjects

5.  Gifted in knowledge and good judgement- which to me means smart AND makes      good decisions.

6.  Well-suited to serve in my palace-had to "fit in" with the palace crowd-servant

IF, they met all these requirements THEN, they were going to be trained in the ways of Babylon; their language, which was Aramaic and their literature-academic programs:  math, science, astronomy, history, and magic.

King Nebuchadnezzar wanted the best and brightest for his court, even if that meant getting them from other lands and retraining them to his ways.

As I thought on this, isn't this what we are faced with every day as believers?  We accept Jesus into our lives.  He takes us as we are; not looking for the strongest and healthiest.  He works in our hearts through the Holy Spirit.  We pray, study His Word, serve, build relationships other believers; growing in wisdom and love for God and for others.  

Yet, the world is there-waiting to "capture" us if we do not guard our hearts.  We live in a world that is trying to steal our joy, telling us to look out for ourselves and not love others, they want to educate us to their "worldly ways"  and use us for their worldly purposes rather than what God has called me to do.

So what do I do?  

Where do I stand?  

Does my faith look the same at home as it does at work?

Do I let the world train me in their ways or do I continue to follow they ways of God and train the world in His ways?