How to Get a Better Perspective on Your Life

In our study of spiritual disciplines, God has reminded me that our attitude in approaching Him is just as important as what we do, if not more important.  Perfection is an unreachable goal that will keep us from living intimately with God.  As long as we focus on our own behavior, we will fail to see how completely Christ meets our every need through the power of His Holy Spirit that lives with us and in us (John 14:17).

In today's passage of scripture, we will see how much difference a right attitude can make. 

            Humble yourselves before the Lord, and He will exalt you. 
                              James 4:10 ESV

Anytime we come to God, it is important for us to be mindful of our inability to do anything without Him.  Many years ago, God impressed upon me that my every heart beat was dependent on His mercy and grace.  My sin demands my death.  But God (I love saying that!) gives me life instead because of my faith in Christ.  

We all fall short of the glory of God.  No one on earth today is perfect.  Every person needs mercy and the only way to get it is through humility.   God wants us to recognize our sin before Him not so He can bring down His wrath on us but so He can demonstrate His great grace toward us.  God is not out to punish us for our sin, although He will allow us to experience their consequences.  He uses our sin to point out how weak we are and how much we need Him.

So the first step to practicing the spiritual disciplines is to be aware of our sinful nature so that we can choose to rely more on God.  

The Bible tells us repeatedly that if we boast and brag about ourselves to God and others, that He will resist us ( Job 22:29; Luke 14:11 and 18:14; 1 Peter 5:6).  Without God we can do nothing!  

I once spent a whole year studying the word "humility" and I was amazed at how deceptively pride had planted itself in my heart.  Even though I battled tremendous insecurity, I was also full of pride.  I would look down on others in the church because they didn't measure up to my standards of a Christian or I would look at someone who got blessed in a big way and be jealous and hateful because I didn't think they deserved it.  

The truth is that none of us deserve anything from God but wrath.  Thankfully, though, He doesn't give us what we deserve!  Our realization of how crippling our own sinfulness is, comes when we achnowledge ALL of our shortcomings, motives, and emotions honestly before God. 

We have no secrets from God but we can hide our sin from ourselves behind justification in our hearts and minds.  

Today set aside some time to be completely honest with God.  Talk to Him about your weaknesses and failures, achnowledge your sin, and refuse to allow fear or shame or condemnation to stop you.  Then spend some time reading your Bible and receive the mercy of God.  He gives it freely and abundantly to ALL who ask for it.    In doing these things, you will discover for yourself how much God loves you and how powerful His presence can be in your own life.

Live today, God first.

Heidirn