“For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways,” says the Lord. “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts.” Isaiah 55:8–9
This three-part series on God’s perspective has had such a staggering impact on the way I think. It took about two weeks of studying to write it in the way I believe best glorifies our Savior. It was a total God-thing that two different men each preached a sermon about the subject of God’s perspective within two weeks of each other. That is the Spirit at work. Two separate men of God were led by the Spirit to plant the Word, and it is bearing fruit. I hope this mini-series is as helpful to you as it is to me.
Our perspective is a view shaped by emotion, experience, environment, tribe, limitation, and even the enemies which convince us that the path of sin will satisfy us. We see through a human lens, which is often clouded by fear, pride, dissatisfaction, or pain. But if our soul is a born-again soul, and we want to live abundantly, we must be constantly learning to shift to God’s perspective. And it’s not a great mystery how to do that: We must not stop at the second level of knowing God (salvation), but must be willing to know God through the third level (intimacy). We must be reconciled to God through salvation, AND we must endeavor to KNOW all we can know about God from His Word and through the relationship!
Yesterday, we learned the staggering truth about Jesus being the Word.
When we make God’s Word our greatest influence, His Spirit becomes our greatest influencer.
The Bible is not merely an ancient book—it is inspired by God Himself. It reveals how He sees everything. His Word exposes the limitations of our own view and offers us a lens of truth, purpose, love, and hope. It pulls us out of confusion and into clarity, not because it reflects us, but because it reflects Him:
“For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” Hebrews 4:12
We often read God’s Word with our perspective—meaning in anticipation that it will reflect our views—instead of reading it with a view that acknowledges we have much to change.
Hebrews 4:12 reveals that God’s Word is not passive or outdated—it is alive, dynamic, and spiritually surgical. It penetrates the deepest parts of our soul, exposing not just our actions, but our thoughts, motives, and intentions. Unlike human words, Scripture cuts through appearances and reveals what’s truly going on inside us, helping us see ourselves as God sees us—and calling us to respond in truth and obedience.
Thus, when we read God’s Word with a desire to know Him, it doesn’t just inform us—it is an invitation for transformation. We are invited into God’s perspective. It’s an invitation into living in reality and the Divine purpose God has for us. Scripture reveals the heart and mind of God—intelligence and love so far beyond what we are capable of experiencing without Him. To have God’s perspective, we must approach His Word with an attitude of being poor in spirit. Then, we begin to trust Him enough to allow Him to lead us with His perspective.
“Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He SHALL direct thy paths.” Proverbs 3:5-6
In great contrast, Revelation 3:17–19 demonstrates what God has to say about the church of Laodicea. They believed they were rich, self-sufficient, and in need of nothing. But Jesus said they were actually “wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked.” Their perspective was completely misaligned with God’s, and they were spiritually dark because they had an attitude of independence from God.
When we think, talk, and live like we don’t need God—we lose His perspective.
My friend, we each face the same danger as the church at Laodicea. We must maintain the attitudes of Christ if we are to have God’s perspective. When we view our problems, relationships, or even tragedies through our own lens, we may end up bitter, fearful, or lost. But when we see them from God’s perspective, even pain becomes purposeful. In fact, each trouble becomes another golden opportunity to live in our Divine Purpose.
We must do much more than read God’s Word with an intellectual purpose. We must be wide open to allow the Spirit to transform our thinking, speaking, and actions. This requires daily surrender. It requires letting go of our own view and allowing God to renew our minds through His Word. When Christ lives in us, we gain access to His heart, His priorities, His wisdom, His love, and His view of the world. That changes how we face difficulty. It changes how we treat people. It changes how we interpret pain.
Indeed, God’s thoughts and ways are far above ours—but if we are willing to surrender EVERY area of our life to Him, then in His love, He shares His glorious perspective with us! In the next two devotionals, we will dig deeper into this glorious gift of God’s perspective. It’s so riveting!
“I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.” Galatians 2:20
Reflection thought:
If you find yourself overwhelmed today, it is not your situation that needs to change—it is your perspective. God is never overwhelmed. Are you seeing through YOUR eyes, or God’s eyes? Ask God what areas of your life you need to surrender in order to enter into His perspective.
Prayer:
Father, thank You for Your Word, which gives me access to Your perfect perspective. Forgive me for the times I’ve leaned on my own understanding and walked in the darkness of my emotions or pride. Help me to surrender daily, to live obediently, and to trust that Your ways are higher—even when I don’t understand. Give me spiritual clarity to see my life and circumstances through Your Word. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
