It's easy for me to become preoccupied with "me." So I thought I'd take some time and list a few things that will improve my perspective.
Life and Death
I recently held a one-month-old baby. He was so sweet and snuggly. What else really matters? Meanwhile, I'm praying for some co-workers whose 13-year-old son is fighting cancer. For them, the battle really is between life and death. My concerns pale by comparison.
Eternity
My mother-in-law is fond of saying, "Will it really matter 100 years from now?" That helps me not to get too worked up about the small stuff. What I really need to ask is, "What will really matter in eternity?" That's an even more important question to answer.
Creation
"When I consider your heavens,
the work of your fingers,
the moon and the stars,
which you have set in place,
what is man that you are mindful of him,
the son of man that you care for him?"
(Psalm 8:3,4)
Blessings
Ask my friend Terry how he is and he'll say, "Blessed." I know he has things going on in his life that are difficult, but he chooses to focus on his blessings. I need to take a lesson from him. I have so much more to be thankful for than I have to complain about.
Sovereignty
And if I do complain, it's like telling God he's not doing a very good job at running my life. Have you seen the movie "Bruce Almighty"? I've only seen it in parts on TV, but the premise is that God gives a human the chance to run the world. In the end, the man realizes he doesn't want to do it and gives control back to God. I'm quite sure I'd come to the same conclusion in the same situation.
The Great Exchange
"He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him" (2 Corinthians 5:21).
When I look around me, I can see hard things happening. What I need to do is change my focus a little and see the good things instead. It's a matter of perspective.
