Seeing From Above

“Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen”

Ephesians. 3:20-21

 

Higher and higher I climbed. One foot in front of the other. Crackling leaves under my feet. Three miles straight up. “When will I get there?” I asked myself.

Then I made it. I reached a small platform perched on the mountain above the Billy Graham Training Center at the Cove. Tired from the climb, I leaned on the railing and looked out over the 1200 acres of the Cove. I could see Swannanoa, Oteen, the city of Asheville. and all the way to Mt. Pisgah. It was breathtaking. It was a beautiful, crisp fall day.

My first thought as I gazed out across Western NC, was “Wow, what a difference it makes to see from a higher perspective.” Just minutes before all I could think of what my hurting feet. Now, I could see possibilities, opportunities, the future. Indeed, perspective changes everything.

Consider with me how important our perspective is to our daily lives.  We can win or lose based our our perspective.  We might see the cup “half full;” others will see it “half empty.” We can be encouraged to persevere through the perspective of a friend. Or we can choose to give up when we lose any perspective of hope. The way we see things makes all the difference.

How does God see our lives and the situations we are facing today? What is His perspective on our lives and our current situations? How would life change if we began to see things from His perspective? I think perspective changes everything.

God is not limited by time or space. God doesn’t deal with a fixed amount of resources. God is all knowing, all powerful and present everywhere. He sees the end from the beginning. He stands above all things and He rules all things. The Bible says that with God, “nothing shall be impossible.” (Luke 1:37).

My perspective is often so very small. Trudging down in the valley, I can’t see things the way God sees them from the mountain top. I see my own feet, He sees the road ahead. I see my problems, He sees the solutions. I remember my failures; He is ready to lead me to victory. Lord, please give us Your perspective!

I love our Scripture for today. God is the one Who is Able. He can do exceedingly, abundantly above all we could ask or think, through His power that works in us. His thoughts are above ours. His strategies are above ours. His vision is above ours. His resources are limitless. His strength never fails.

We need to see things through God’s eyes. To get His perspective, the first step is to let go of our own.

Sometimes it’s as simple as hearing God speak through prayer or His Word. One verse can turn everything around in our minds. Sometimes God fills us with His Spirit and we find a holy boldness arising from within. When God gives us new perspective. . . His perspective. . . everything changes.

Joseph told his brothers, “You meat this for evil, but God meant this for good, so that He could save many alive!” David said to Goliath, “You come at me with a sword and a spear, but I come to you in the name of the God of Israel, the One you have defied!” Peter denied the Lord three times. In a few short days, He saw 3000 people come to faith in Jesus.

Take some time to soak in God’s presence this week. Read Hebrews 11 and consider how God worked on behalf of the great men and women of our faith. They believed God. They sought to live from His perspective. They shut the mouths of lions, escaped fiery furnaces, defeated armies. All because they believed in Him who is able to do exceedingly, abundantly above all we could ask or think.

We need to go higher my friends. We need a fresh faith perspective on our lives and our problems. We need the Spirit to take us to the mountain top. From there we can decide how to proceed.

Take us higher, Lord. We want to know Your mind and heart. Nothing is impossible for You!