God, What Does This Look Like From Your Perspective?

I think most of us would agree we are glad 2020 is over. Nothing has really changed except the year but there seems to be a sense of optimism in the air with the coming of the new year. As I mentioned in my previous blog, the challenges of the past year were not a surprise to God. My good friend Patty often reminds me to ask, “God, what does this look like from your perspective?”

It’s easy to get lost in the chaos of COVID, the election, and life in general. The arguments on social media about these items do not change anyone’s mind or lead to any meaningful resolution. What do we do with our frustration? I suggest we talk with God. We have been given a tremendous opportunity to trust Him and we have the best wireless connection in the universe … prayer.

I feel challenged to change my prayer life. Rather than asking God to change things that make me uncomfortable or decisions I don’t agree with, I am intentionally asking Him what He is trying to show me. Is He asking me to reach out to specific people? Is He challenging me to step into a new area of ministry? Is He calling me to spend more time with Him? I suspect the answer is “all of the above.”

God has also called me to spend more time in His Word. He sent a tremendous love letter called “the Bible” and I want to read it with as much anticipation as I would a love letter from someone I care about deeply. I recently read Colossians and was challenged as a follower of Christ to “Put on the New Self” to help me really see God’s perspective.

If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.

Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. Colossians 3:1-4; 12-17 (ESV)