When my daughter, Charity was little, she loved to help me with household chores. It was a delight to watch her chubby little fingers struggle to fold laundry just like me. I can recall a time when she took her daddy’s shirt from the basket, pointing out to me it was the one she and her brothers had made for Father’s Day. Her brows scrunched together with each deliberate fold, taking extra care. Next, she pulled out her oldest brother’s little league baseball shirt, running her fingers over the numbers before folding and laying it next to the others.
As I watched her, I said to the Lord, “I wish I could have Charity’s joyful attitude about doing simple chores.”
God said to me in my spirit, “What you need is Charity’s perspective. Perspective has the power to change the attitude.”
Perspective has the power to change our attitude.
I thought about how our attitudes play a big part of how we experience life.
Have you ever known one of those people who just seems to have a joyful disposition and overall positive attitude about life? They are the ones that see the glass as half full rather than half empty.
Seeing the glass as half full is a matter of perspective which in turn affects the attitude. That makes sense, right?
Hmm. I wouldn’t mind having some of that. But as someone who tends to be more critical, how was this possible?
The answer, of course, could be found in God’s word—in God’s Son to be specific.
What is Jesus’ perspective about life, about mundane chores, about this world filled with depravity and hate?
And what kind of attitude did Jesus display when he lived on earth and dealt with such things?
“You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had: Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to. Instead, he gave up his divine privileges; he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being. When he appeared in human form, he humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross.” Philippians 2:5-8
Reading over the red letters in my Bible (Jesus’ words), something profound and yet so simple occurred to me. He came, He lived, and He died for the same reason. Having the same perspective and the same attitude.
LOVE.
The Jesus perspective is one of love.
That was certainly Charity’s perspective, motivation, and attitude. She loved me and wanted to help me. She loved her family and found joy in doing something to demonstrate her love. What I saw as mundane, in her eyes, was a chance to serve and love. I find it interesting that her name means love (insert smile here).
But Charity was a child and had not yet experienced the disappointments and the pain which can wash over us like ocean waves, breaking us down until we see life as a series of struggles.
Maybe this is why Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, unless you turn from your sins and become like little children, you will never get into the Kingdom of Heaven. So, anyone who becomes as humble as this little child is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven.”
Matthew 18:2-4
How do we return to this childlike humble faith?
It isn’t possible on our own. To have a Christ-like perspective and attitude, we need Christ Himself. For anything we try to do on our own has no real value (John 15:5).
We must “line ourselves up” to Christ and His ways.
Self-Realignment to Gain Christ’s Perspective
- Prayer
Lord, Jesus I want your perspective and attitude. Please empower me with your Holy Spirit to see things like You.
- Think about what you think about
We are shaped by our thoughts. Our thoughts reflect our hearts. We become what we think.
“Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life.” Proverbs 4:23
- Renew your mind
What we think creates what’s known as neural pathways in our brain. Over years and years, they become very stuck and deeply embedded, moving into deeper portions of the brain.
The One who created our brains can help us develop new neural pathways.
How?
“Let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think.” Romans12:2
Remember, we must read His Word and apply it in order to change.
- Submit
Interestingly, the way to a Jesus perspective and attitude is found by giving up control.
“So, I say, let the Holy Spirit guide your lives.” Galatians 5:16
When the Spirit controls our minds, we can expect these results: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23)
We have two choices: allow the Holy Spirit to control our minds or allow the sin nature to control our minds.
When the sin nature is in control, here is what to expect: “When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, the results are very clear: sexual immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures, idolatry, sorcery, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, division, 21 envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other sins like these.” (Galatians 5:19-21)
There are many things in life that we cannot change or control. But for most of us, this does not include our attitudes. Our attitudes are something we can usually control.
If we want to have the Jesus perspective in our lives, we must submit control of our attitude to Him. Listen, this isn’t a one-shot deal. Just like our cars need an alignment, we do too. Our attitudes can get thrown out of alignment by circumstances on a regular basis. Therefore, we must live attached to the vine of Christ in order to identify when we have allowed something to throw us off course.
When Christ is in control of our attitude, the byproduct is His perspective which is love. And love isn’t just an emotion. Love shows. Love does.
Is your love showing today?
Do you have comments or a prayer request? Please comment below.
Beckie — I love this — especially the part about letting the Holy Spirit control our minds . I had to do that. I was able to accomplish that by reading more of His word. I didn’t just go through the motions, I applied it. Even if it meant reading only one verse — I read it until I was able to understand and apply.
Thanks for the post.
Del
emember, we must read His Word and apply it in order to change.
Del, I agree. The more we read and pray- the more we are transformed. It’s better to meditate on just one verse and really live it than read and not apply. Thanks for commenting.
Thank you, Beckie. What a great understanding of becoming like children- not simple and ignorant, but beautiful and attentive to the love He offers us daily! This is a great post, my friend. Well done.
Beckie, I needed this tonight as I’m feeling overwhelmed. Thank you for outlining the steps and reminding me to have the perspective of Jesus. I loved reading about Charity; I know that feeling of wanting to share some of what our beautiful little girls have to offer! 💕 God bless you, my sweet friend, in Jesus’ name! 😊
Angela, Aw, do I know the feeling of being overwhelmed. It’s a signal to me that I’m holding on to things that belong in God’s control. I’m praying for God’s peace over you (and me). I’m glad this post was used to bring encouragement to you. Praise the Lord!
Blessings to you and your too and thanks for taking the time to share your thoughts.
We do need to surrender and submit to God each and every day if we want to stay aligned with Jesus and His love. Certainly, Beckie, all the tips you’ve given us here to tune our perspective of life are amazing. And we can have those positive attitudes with God’s help!
Blessings!
Martha, it’s truly a daily challenge for me to stay connected to God and His perspective. As much as I love Him, I’m so easily thrown out of “alignment” by circumstances. It’s because of my own struggle to stay positive that I have written this post.
I’m forever grateful for His steadfast love and grace that never ceases.
Thanks for your sweet comment. You are a blessing to me.
Wow, Beckie, I love this post. And this, “Perspective has the power to change our attitude.” The Philippians 2 passage is one of my all time favorites. Such a great article about Jesus’ perspective on love and to guard our heart and to “think about what you think about.” Thank you!
Karen, I’m so glad you found this post helpful. It’s a daily challenge to submit our thoughts to Jesus in order to receive his perspective. But it is worth it, right?!
Thanks for taking the time to comment. Blessings, sweet friend!
I love how God speaks through the everyday things. Thanks for pointing out TRUTH, Beckie. And, for pointing me to THE TRUTH.
Thanks, Jeanne!
What a profound truth God showed you through Charity’s clothes folding. Don’t you love it when He does that?
Thanks for the excellent lesson, methodically walking us through Scripture, illustrating God’s perspective on perspective.
Connie, we have been given a great honor to teach and raise our children. But I also believe some of my greatest moments of learning the loving character of God have come through what my children have taught me!
Thanks for commenting, dear sister.
God bless you and yours
Fantastic perspective on Phil. 2 – that it’s all about love.
I’m so thankful that I’m not stuck with my current ways of thinking, too. Maybe we all need a “love alignment!”
Firm words Lindsey.
Other marks of being child like is to free of worries and to trust the words of the parents (especially when they have always kept their word).
More reasons to be a child like before God.
Lots of love to you.
I appreciate your post and perspective, Beckie! (insert another smile) Thank you for sharing this story about Charity and the need to realign how we think about life to how Jesus thinks. Something I want to remember to do from here on!
Katy, I’m so glad you enjoyed this post. Thanks so much for stopping by and for your encouraging comment.