Perspective is an impression of how we mentally view someone or something. We all see things through the eyes that we see them through; but our mind and heart are filters that cause us to perceive what we see. When you see through eyes of hurt, frustration, fear, anger or doubt it determines not only what you see, but how you see. When I was a boy growing up there was a country and western song that said, “these rose colored glasses that I am looking through show only the beauty because they hide all the truth.” Sometimes what we see is determined by the lens we are looking through. When we see through “Rose Colored Glasses” every thing tends to look “Rosie” (every pun intended). Being grateful is a matter of perspective. It is also a choice. If you look long enough, hard enough and deep enough, you will find something to be grateful for.
What lens you choose to look through determines what you see. When you magnify something you see it as being bigger. It doesn’t get bigger it appears bigger. A magnifying lens makes the words on the page appear bigger, but if you were to look underneath the magnifying lens at the words on the page you will find they didn’t get any bigger although they appeared bigger while looking through the magnifying lens. Do you magnify your burdens or do you magnify your blessings? What you magnify matters! What you magnify becomes bigger. The writer says, “come let us magnify the Lord together.” Can we make God bigger? No. But could we see Him as being bigger? Yes. When magnify God we see Him as being bigger than our burdens. Again what you magnify matters! How you see things and the lens you see them through matters too.
Paul wrote a lot of the new testament; some of which he wrote while in prison. In Philippians 1 he says this: “I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy. I am happy because you have joined me in spreading the good news. You have done so from the first day until now. I am sure that the One who began a good work in you will carry it on until it is completed. That will be on the day Christ Jesus returns. It is right for me to feel this way about all of you. I love you with all my heart. I may be held by chains, or I may be standing up for the truth of the good news. Either way, all of you share in God’s grace together with me. God can give witness that I long for all of you. I love you with the love that Christ Jesus gives. I pray that your love will grow more and more. And let it be based on knowledge and understanding. Then you will be able to know what is best. You will be pure and without blame until the day Christ returns. You will be filled with the fruit of right living produced by Jesus Christ. All of those things bring glory and praise to God.” You talk about a “Grateful Perspective!”
Here are 5 Things We Need to Remember When it Comes to Gratitude:
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Be grateful and realize everything you have comes from God.
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Be grateful and don’t take anything or anyone for granted.
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Be grateful for what you have even if it’s not all you need.
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Be grateful for what you have even if it’s not what you want.
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Be grateful for the broken pieces of the process that someday will produce the full picture.
Gratefulness unleashes the generosity of God. Gratitude is a choice. Perspective is what you choose to see. What you choose to see will produce gratefulness or grieving – burdens or blessings. God knows what you need. He wants to know if you are grateful for what you have. What lens are you looking through? See through eyes of gratefulness and it will begin to change your perspective. You can can see with your heart what you will never see with your eyes. Magnify the Lord! See life through the lens of gratefulness and watch what happens. I believe you will develop like Paul, a “Grateful Perspective.”