Change Your Perspective

Your perspective changes everything.

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Change Your Perspective is part three and the final part of the blog post, “Change Your Mind, Change Your Life.” This was one of the most important lessons I learned that changed my life. When you change your perspective, it changes everything. It not only changes how you see things but also how you react and respond. When I did this, I began to see things the way God wanted me to see them. Instead of having the mindset that my adversities were obstacles, I began to consider them as opportunities. This change allowed me not to be so frustrated when I had problems or faced inconveniences. I viewed them as challenges (in a good way) to have self-control and overcome the feelings of my flesh. A change of perspective allowed my spirit to be developed and matured. I already realized that my spirit should control my flesh and not the other way around. However, I began to put it into practice and look at the difficult situations as something that God wanted to use to get something to me, through me, or out of me. I focused on the opportunity that was in it for me and began to consider that if everything works for the good of those who love the Lord, then anything that happens is for my good. I just needed to figure out what was the opportunity – whether it was to learn, persevere, overcome, or whatever.

I believe that God is always speaking. The question is, are we listening, or are we so busy complaining that we are missing the point? Are we so focused on the problems that we are missing that He is trying to use them to do work within us? If you were to change your perspective, knowing that everything that God allows is for your good, how would you react or respond to adversities? Would you respond differently if you were to ask yourself during a challenging time, what God is trying to get to me, through me, or out of me? Would you allow your flesh or your spirit to rise? These are the questions I began to ask myself and it changed my conversation with Him. It also began to change my words, my thoughts, my feelings, and my perspective when things would happen in my life. It helped me to realize that everything God allowed, the good, the bad, and the ugly, was going to cause the change that I asked Him to make in me all along. Also, I realized that those things were not happening to me, but they are happening for me to become what I am meant to be and to live the way I am meant to live.

One thing that I realize now is that some of the things I was fighting against, were the very things God was trying to use to answer my prayers. However, I was missing it because I was focused on the problem instead of what I would have to become for the solution. It reminds me of what I say to impatient people. I always say, “If you are not patient, God will make sure you have to wait.” This is because you must practice patience to become patient.

God must develop in us what we need for our journey so we must begin to look at our adversities like training. It is personal development to prepare us for what He has planned. Ephesians 2:10 says, “For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” With that being said, change your perspective, stop fighting, get to work, and start learning. We are so quick to blame the enemy, but even if it is his doing, if God allowed it, then it must be for our good. Even if I am not sure why it is happening, that is the way I choose to see it. I choose to change my perspective because I know God wants me to have an abundant and prosperous life. He said in Jeremiah 29:11, “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”

As you speak life, shift your focus, and change your perspective you will rise to the standard that will be required for you to achieve what you are hoping to accomplish. To prosper, you must make progress and progress only comes from growth. We cannot remain the same and expect our lives to change. When I made these changes, not only did it change my life, but also some of my prayers were answered. YOU must change to live the life you want to have, and more importantly, the life God has planned for you.

“No one sews a patch of unshrunk cloth on an old garment. Otherwise, the new piece will pull away from the old, making the tear worse. And no one pours new wine into old wineskins. Otherwise, the wine will burst the skins, and both the wine and the wineskins will be ruined. No, they pour new wine into new wineskins.” (Mark 2:21-22)

I hope this three-part blog post, Change Your Mind, Change Your Life, encouraged and inspired you on your journey and helped you as it helped me. As I continue to learn, I will continue to share. If you missed any part of this series, or know someone you would like to share it with, here are the links: Speak Life (part one), Shift Your Focus (part two), and Change Your Perspective (part three).