“The eternal perspective is the ability to see all of life from God’s point of view and have what you see affect how you live in the present. Simply stated, the eternal perspective is the ability to walk by faith in God’s Word.”~ Catherine Martin, from A Heart To See Forever
Walking by faith can be challenging. It's one thing to say you believe that God is in control. But what happens when your emotions get in the way? What happens when you aren't seeing answers to the prayers you've prayed again and again?
I don't know about you but there are times when I want to see, hear and feel where I'm going. And yet God calls us to walk by faith and to trust Him.
I'm in the process of unpacking boxes as we're getting settled in a small condo. I was delighted when I happened upon a box filled with my journals. I love to write and as I opened several there were stories I'd almost forgotten. Prayer requests were written. From this vantage point, I was able to see that the Lord had heard my cries and many were answered. Not all were yes. Some were no or not yet. But I realized God had better plans for me than some of my requests.
Looking back through the pages of my journals gave me such hope. It was a reassurance to me that God was active and in control of my life, even when I didn't always FEEL it. I could believe God's Word. There is truth in God's Word.
Believing God encourages me to walk by faith.
This world is not my permanent home; I'm just passing through. However, while I'm here I want to allow Him to use me for His Kingdom purposes. I pray that He will give me eyes to see and ears to hear from His perspective.
I can listen for His prompting as I stay close to Him. Instead of becoming impatient with the grocery clerk who is obviously having a difficult day, I may be able to offer her a smile and word of encouragement instead of being cranky myself.
2 Corinthians 4:18-19 says:
"So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal."
How about you? Are you so focused on the here and now of life that you forget that this world isn't your permanent home?
- Spend time in prayer and reading your Bible each day.
- Take time to listen to what He has to say to you personally.
- Ask God to give you eyes to see and ears to hear what He wants for you.
- Ask Him to give you His eternal perspective.
Blessings and love,
Amen, beautifully written.
ReplyDeleteDebbie...I absolutely believe in your comments of keeping an eternal perspective. I'm trying to work on keeping positive in every situation and know God has a personal plan for me/us..that's glorious and it's happening now too ;)
ReplyDeleteThank you for your sweet words! I miss ya!
Beautifully written Debbie! :) I know that are many times I let circumstances and impatience dictate the path I take, but genuine faith is strengthened when I wait and believe that God’s promise will be fulfilled!
ReplyDeleteBlessings sweet friend!
Denise
Debbie this was really lovely to read. I had a terrible week last week and then got reminded at church on Sunday about the eternal perspective, so to read it again today has really given me the assurance that I needed that the present is indeed temporary xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx.
ReplyDeleteBelieving God does help us walk by faith. We never would make it if we didn't have someone like God to truly believe in. Thanks for hosting today it was great. Cute pictures I see.
ReplyDeleteI really couldn't add anything to this. I get too caught up in the now and not the eternal.
ReplyDeleteI too recently felt I that I should go back and look through my journals...maybe this was God's prompting to remind me of His faithfulness through all the years.
Thank you for hosting this week . . . I always appreciate reading your words of encouragement and inspiration. This quote reminded me of my own journey and I frequently am reminded how important it is to keep that "eternal perspective" especially in the midst of fear or confusion. Thanks for sharing your story ;o) Nina
ReplyDeletePS I promoted IOW today on the Ruby for Women community page as well as on my FB and Twitter. Hoping to connect with a few more bloggers every Tuesday ;o)
ReplyDeleteThere was a season ago when I "got" it--it was easier to live with kingdom perspective while suffering. Not that I ask for it, but as the suffering moved out, so did my willingness to entreat those things that bring worry, temporal time-wasters that really (in the grand scheme of life and perspective) don't amount to much. Whenever I'm overwhelmed by life, I pull out my journals as well and take time to realign my priorities. I'm glad for the written remembrances. They help me to trace the hand of God in all of my comings and goings.
ReplyDeleteBlessings and peace~elaine
Oh, Debbie, when the emotions come rolling in, it is so hard to see that God is in control. Even as I step out in faith trusting Him that He is in control of Jordan's life and has a perfect plan, I fall backwards again when I feel or see something I don't like.
ReplyDeleteIt takes a lot of prayer and quiet time with the Lord.
Your new condo looks relaxing. And it looks like you have accepted this new plan for you from God.
Blessings, Debbie, as we all try to move forward with the Lord.
Janis
It has been quite a while since I have reread some of my journals, Debbie, but I know when I have, it has been such an encouragement to me to see how God has been at work in my life. Your post sets my heart on seeing the eternal perspective of my life, and I need that right now. I am thankful that God will show this to me as I spend time in His word and in prayer.
ReplyDeleteDear Debbie,
ReplyDeleteI sure haven't made your progresses on the heavenly road.
I see things mostly from my perspective, and I'm struggling to do the right things from where I stand.
Often I get confused and bewildered.
I once wrote a blog post in such a state of mind.
Then came this Steve E, commenting, "As far as I know, God is still in charge".
Those words set me free and have become a solid life west when the waves are threatening to overwhelm me.
God is still in charge.
Hallelujah.
Eternal perspective... I think each of us who are on this journey come face to face with that thought many times as we go along. It's one of the greatest motivating things for me, to remember how temporary this life is. Isn't it amazing how quickly the world and our 'situations' can dim that eternal perspecive?
ReplyDeleteAnd one more thing... I love that picture of you having your quiet time. I think the first picture other than your 'blog face' one that I saw of you, was this one, and I knew I liked you immediately just from the back of your head!! :)
Thank you SO MUCH for hosting today! This is a great quote and you introduced me to an author I am interested in reading more of her books! :)
ReplyDeleteAnd no, we do not always "FEEL" our faith . . . do we . . . but SOMEDAY it will indeed be SIGHT!
Blessings dear one . . .
What this world offers drag us down all the more compared to what His Word said which was true, applied on our daily walks truly makes our journeys easier even when we are going through the valleys.
ReplyDeleteI pray that He will increase our faith more and more...God bless you sister and may you always be strong in God's mighty power.