Perspective

I don't know how to start this one off exactly...so here goes nothing.

It seems that in the area I live, more things go wrong than they go right.  At least that's the way I tend look at life in the north east.  I have thought this way for a few months.  Then I realized my perspective was off and I was giving too much credit to the things of this world.


  If I trust in the laws of this world I will constantly be disappointed and hurt but if I trust in the laws of the Lord and the understanding of the resurrection power of Jesus I will constantly be empowered to overcome all disappointment and hurt associated with this world.
  I notice when I feel the most pain, when I feel life sucks the most, when I feel like my world is falling apart it's when I am away from Jesus.  The foundational understanding of all Christians is that spending time devoted to prayer and studying of the word brings healthy living.  Healthy living encompasses all aspects of life. Healing, prosperity, understanding, peace, self control, love, endurance, maturity, leadership, etc.
I understand this very basic principle but I still fall away from the constant devotion to Jesus.  And when I do, I notice the difference in my thinking.  A flat tire on the way to work becomes the murder of my first born when I have not spent time with God.  It's like holding a quarter up to my eye.  In this perspective, the quarter will consume my entire vision, I won't be able to see anything besides the quarter.  If I place that quarter at the end of a football field my perspective of the quarter will be changed.  Death, sickness, loss of a job, depression, lack, tough decisions, hurt, fear, pain, these are all things that attempting to handle without a strong understanding of the promises of Jesus will always put them in wrong perspective.  Those same things taken into perspective with the understanding that Jesus said "I will never leave you nor forsake you" seem like the quarter placed at the end of the football field.  It is nothing that cannot be taken care of with the help of Jesus.  And when it comes down to it, what do these little things really matter in relation to eternity?  My goal is heaven, my job is to have relationship with God and to share that loving relationship with as many people as possible while I am on earth.  Compared to that Job description, nothing else matters.  One beautiful thing about my God is that He is still here to help me with my needs, if they matter or not.  He is always willing to help in my time of need.

Jesus, I thank You for heavenly perspective.  I thank You for showing me what truly matters.  I ask the Holy Spirit to guide me and comfort me when I am faced with this world.  Jesus, give me Your heart.  Amen.