Perspective Is Everything

And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, who will never leave you. He is the Holy Spirit, who leads into all truth. The world cannot receive him, because it isn't looking for him and doesn't recognize him. But you know him, because he lives with you now and later will be in you. John 14:16, 17 NLT 

Perspective can change everything. In 2 Kings 6:15-17, during the night the prophet Elisha and his servant are surrounded by Aramean troops who intend to capture them. The next morning the young servant panics when he realizes their deadly predicament.

"Don't be afraid!" Elisha told him. "For there are more on our side than on theirs!"  Then Elisha prayed, "O Lord, open his eyes and let him see!" The Lord opened the young man's eyes, and when he looked up, he saw that the hillside around Elisha was filled with horses and chariots of fire." (6:17) His perspective changed.

Recently I heard one of the experts observe that truth no longer exists in America. It seems everyone is permitted to choose his/her own reality. That this is even accepted is bewildering to me. How tragically confusing and depressing life must be without the anchor of God-defined truth and reality.

As believers in Jesus and students of God's Word, we need not be caught up in this delusion of the enemy. The Bible removes the veil of deception by defining reality and truth for us through the revelation of the Holy Spirit. Without the anchor of our heavenly Father's truth and love, we will be easily blown off course, and be blindly led into chaos, division, anarchy and worse. We will end up calling good that which is evil in God's eyes, and evil that which God created for our good. We will have been captured by our great enemy, whose only desire is to deceive and destroy humankind and disrupt and delay Jesus' Kingdom on earth.

Instead of following the world that cannot discern truth from fiction, we have the very light with which to lead them out of the darkness. The Holy Spirit now lives in us, and if we let him, can and will lead us into ALL truth, as Jesus promises in the verse above. We do not have to fall into depression, hopelessness and darkness. We are no longer slaves to fear and sin. Our old nature was crucified with Christ. We are totally new women, being made more and more beautiful day by day in the light, love and presence of God who has a sovereign plan for us.

Let us have compassion and mercy on those who do not yet believe. Let us reach out to them and shine the light of truth on our surroundings and circumstances. But, let us be alert and pray protection for ourselves, our families and communities. There is a spiritual war out there, but Jesus has given us the power and authority to live in peace, love and joy in the midst of the battle. Do you know and believe the truth that will set you and others free from the enemy's strategies? Join the battle!

Dear friend, be blessed with deep peace as the Holy Spirit leads you daily into increasing truth and revelation of what really matters. Bask in God's presence and light as you grow ever more beautiful in Christ. You are dearly loved. Amen.

Mary Sumner ~ September, 2020