Perspective is powerful–it can make you feel like a prince or a pauper. Keeping things in their proper perspective is key to pleasure, your ability to enjoy life. Example–

Picture yourself, with everything you have, living in the heart of Hollywood, surrounded by the mansions of the rich and famous. This view breeds discontent. It’s easy to be envious when you compare yourself to folks like that. You start to feel that you deserve more, bigger, and better. Life seems unfair.

However, let’s change our perspective by picturing ourself, with everything we have, living in a poverty ridden place such as Haiti. Look at your neighbors. Notice the beggars roaming the streets. Consider the cardboard shacks in which they live. Pay close attention to what they wear and eat. Think about their means of transportation and the lack of public services. Want to trade places? Of course not!

It is no wonder that a wise man like Paul would say,”—we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen—things which are–eternal.”( 2 Cor. 4:18). He knew that, instead of comparing ourselves to others, we should keep our focus on who we are and what we have in Christ.

Discontent destroys our joy and impedes our progress in life. It makes winners feel like losers. As Ben Franklin said, “Content makes poor men rich; discontent makes rich men poor.”

A wall plaque in my office says,”I complained because I had no shoes, until I met a man who had no feet.” Yep–it’s all a matter of perspective!

—- Yea,all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble – 1 Peter 5:5

Here is the secret, Peter says, to genuinely and consistently serving others: humility. As long as you are set upon pleasing yourself, fulfilling yourself, seeking self-advancement, you will never be able to genuinely serve others.

Be clothed with humility. A wonderful and poignant way of emphasizing the need for a constant covering of our self-seeking human nature. Let humility be the attire you choose to walk in, live in each day.

Why live this self-deprecating, self-denying way of life? The reply is simple and powerful: God resists proud people, but He gives grace and help to the humble.

Those who lower themselves to serve others will find that God himself is serving them! He gives to the humble, others-oriented saints of God the forgiveness and strength and supply that they do not deserve but so desperately need.

On the other hand, those who seek to exalt and help and please themselves should realize that they are literally anti-God! They are choosing sides, and the battle will be them against God.

Which describes your condition today? Do you find God meeting your every need as you seek sincerely to meet the needs of others, or do you find yourself constantly at a loss to fulfill yourself, even though you give yourself to the effort whole-heartedly?

God resists the proud, but He helps those who help others. (From “A Good Thing”)

Life isn’t always easy, even if we are faithfully following Christ. As strange as it might seem, we can be in a whirlwind of trouble and the will of God at the same time. The Lord doesn’t always keep us from the storm, but He keeps us in the storm! He provides peace for our problems, just like He promised.

When everything around us is falling apart we can cling to His precious promises and find peace that passeth all understanding. As you face the difficulties of this day, consider this: “These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.”(John 16:33).

Since He has overcome the world, there is no need for me to feel overwhelmed. Adrian Rogers said it well:

“The will of God will never take you where the grace of God cannot keep you. His power is ever-present in your life as His child.

If I could have been there in the days of His flesh, I would have wanted to see Him walk across the sea and calm the waves. I can just see that kingly form with the wind in His hair, putting His foot steps on the sea, His garments billowing back. Smiling at the storm.

When the disciples saw Him walking on the water, what was their biggest problem? The water. Jesus in essence was saying, “What looks like it’s going to be over your head, is already under My feet.”

What are some problems that are drowning you in fear, in discouragement, in sadness today? Give them to Jesus. Remember: what is over your head is under His feet.”

And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you.–Matthew 24:4

There is simply no way of telling just how much damage has been done as a result of having been deceived. Commenting on this verse, David Jeremiah wrote:

The Greek scholar Erasmus made an astute point in saying, “Man’s mind is so formed that it is far more susceptible to falsehood than to truth.”—- Pascal, added, “We like to be deceived.”

Our fallen natures are easily deceived. Deception, after all, was the first sin. Eve cried out, “The serpent beguilded me, and I did eat.” At the end of the Bible we’re told that the Antichrist will deceive the whole world (Revelation 13:14). Between the devil and the Antichrist are millions of deceivers, and the Lord warns us to think clearly and to be on guard. The Bible says the last days will be characterized by “evil men and seducers” growing worse and worse, “deceiving and being deceived” (2 Timothy 3:13).

The way to avoid deception is to study God’s Word daily, confess your sins quickly, pray for wisdom, and live a life of integrity and honesty. As 1 John 3:7 puts it: “Little children, let no man deceive you: He that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as He is righteous.” (Scripture references changed to KJV)

Take heed that no one deceives you.

Discernment is not a matter of simply telling the difference between right and wrong; rather it is telling the difference between right and almost right.
Charles H. Spurgeon