BELIEVE AND SEE THE SITUATION DIFFERENTLY - PART 3

Today we are going to look at the few ways, believing and seeing things differently can benefit us. In other words, it pays to have the right perspective or see situations differently.

Reference: 2 Corinthians 5:5 The Message (MSG) 'The Spirit of God whets our appetite by giving us a taste of what's ahead. He puts a little of heaven in our hearts so that we'll never settle for less.'

Gaining the right perspective helps us not to settle for less. Through the Word of God, we allow the Spirit of God to give us the right tastes and desires. This means that the Holy Spirit's role is to help us to gain the right perspective. I shared in yesterday's article about the well-to-do woman in the town of Shunem, known as the Shunammite woman who showed hospitality to the prophet Elisha, by constructing a room where he could stay whenever he came to town.

While studying the attributes of this Shunammite woman, I observed that she was a woman of influence. One of the factors that contributed to her influence is her perspective. She could see what others couldn't see. For example, in the whole town of Shunem, she was the only women that paid great attention to the man of God. She didn't just discern that Elisha was a man of God, she also thought about hospitality and then influenced her husband to do Elisha good. That's a higher perspective. The Bible explained it this way: 'One day Elisha went to the town of Shunem. A wealthy woman lived there, and she urged him to come to her home for a meal. After that, whenever he passed that way, he would stop there for something to eat. She said to her husband, "I am sure this man who stops in from time to time is a holy man of God. Let's build a small room for him on the roof and furnish it with a bed, a table, a chair, and a lamp. Then he will have a place to stay whenever he comes by."'

Sometimes, great perspective requires that you maintain and keep the view to yourself until it produces desired expectations. For instance, this woman from Shunem knew who to talk to about her son's death and she went for him (Elisha). If she had spoken to any other person about the tragic demise, they would've discouraged her from seeing the prophet. Maybe the husband and other people in the neighbourhood would've started mourning the child's death and from there, one thing would lead to another, such as burial preparation. So she kept that perspective to herself, until it yielded her desired result.

The right perspective gives you a standard and it can help you to stay disciplined to know what you actually need. For instance, when Elisha was contemplating about the means to reward the Shunammite woman, Elisha said to Gehazi, "Tell her, ‘We appreciate the kind concern you have shown us. What can we do for you? Can we put in a good word for you to the king or to the commander of the army?’" "No," she replied, "my family takes good care of me" (2 Kings 4:12-13 NLT). Her perspective positioned her to maintain a certain standard, and as a result she knew what she needed.

Another thing the right belief and perspective does for you is that it propels you to go for the best, instead of settling for less. She had the right perspective that wouldn't settle for less. For instance, when she got to Elisha and told him about the death of her son, Elisha said to Gehazi, 'Get ready to travel; take my staff and go! Don’t talk to anyone along the way. Go quickly and lay the staff on the child’s face. But the boy's mother said, "As surely as the Lord lives and you yourself live, I won’t go home unless you go with me." So Elisha returned with her' (2 Kings 4:29-30). Notice that she placed demand on Elisha himself and refused to settle for the servant of Elisha. So Elisha had to return with her.

Verse 31 says, 'Gehazi hurried on ahead and laid the staff on the child's face, but nothing happened. There was no sign of life. He returned to meet Elisha and told him, "The child is still dead."' This implies that the woman of Shunem demanded for the right person. Our perspectives influence everything we do and today’s message encourages us to look at life from God's perspective because God's Word gives us the right values and desires.

Scripture Reading - 2 Corinthians 4:16-18; Philippians 2:5; Colossians 3:1-2; 1 Timothy 6:18-19.

Guided Prayer: Heavenly Father, I believe every word that comes from you because it grants me the right and eternal perspective. By storing your Word in my heart and declaring it, I experience lasting change and transformation in every aspect of my life. As a result, I see with the eyes of the Spirit as you work through my circumstances and influence my choices, to align with your perfect will for my life. Thank you for showing me the practical ways to grasp and enhance the fullness of the mind of Christ in me, in Jesus' Name, Amen!