Weekly Bread

Personal perceptions are determined by a variety of things such as past experiences, culture, information, relationships, etc. I'm referring to perception with regard to our outlook in life and the circumstances it presents. The way we respond to the events of life stems from our perception and the way it has been shaped.

Much too often we are trapped in life because of a distorted perception. Childhood experiences have locked people into living their adult lives based upon what happened to them as children. I could go on and on with different scenario’s that have shaped our perceptions in life. When this happens, people become victims of their past and miss out on a future of freedom. In fact, many develop a victim mentality because of what happened in their life. They become attentive to the things that will feed the hurt, and they ignore the truths that will deliver them. The past will continue to live on by them dwelling on it and talking about it regularly. No one has been excluded from the negative experiences of life, but what we do with those experiences is our choice.

The apostle Paul had something to say about his past and his future in Philippians 3:13 which says;

“Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before.”

Paul was saying that he put out of mind the things of his past that would obstruct his view and hinder his future. His perception was shaped by his past, but he chose to allow the Word to reshape his outlook. Putting something out of your mind is choosing not to dwell on the things of the past; but instead, thinking on the things ahead. It’s impossible to think on two things at once.

Years ago, the Holy Spirit said to me that you can’t go to the past to change the past. You might think that’s goofy, because everyone knows you can’t do that. The truth is that people waste away their lives thinking about what they should have or should not have done. There’s nothing we can do about the past. It is done and gone forever. Although that’s true, we are left with its results.

The Holy Spirit said to me, "You can change the results of the past by faith." Those who choose to do this are those who refuse to be helpless victims of their past and rise to the occasion of victory. The Bible is written from the perspective of a triumphant victory and introduces us to a new life. It is an impossibility to focus on the wounds of the past and be free from them.

We have a choice to make just like God told the people in Deuteronomy 30:19.

“I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life that both thou and thy seed may live:”

The choice we make will cause our ears to become attentive to hearing the things that will support that choice. We can see this happen when Stephen spoke the Word to the people who were focused on their past and chose not to hear Him. Acts 7:57

“Then they cried out with a loud voice, and stopped their ears, and ran upon him with one accord.”

Their outlook on life had been shaped by their past, and they refused to hear the truth that would set them free. They held onto the past and refused to go into the future; and they detached themselves by killing Stephen. Don’t forfeit your future by cutting off those who speak to you about who you are in Christ and not who you were. You are who God says you are, not what past experiences have conveyed to you.

Pastor James

In II Corinthians 5:17 we read;

“Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creation; old things are passed away; behold all things are become new.”

How do you see your life as a Christian? Do you still see the old, or do you see the new life in Christ? The way you see yourself will determine the kind of life you live.

There is a story of an Arkansas farmer who sold his farm because he was tired of not being able to make a good living. As he moved on to seek his fortune elsewhere, several years had passed on; and he still was struggling to make ends meet. Tired and broke, he returned to the community where he had once farmed. One day as he was passing his old farm, he was amazed at what the new owner was able to do with the farm. There were new buildings, new farm equipment, beautiful lawns; and rows of trees and shrubs had been planted. He was amazed at the transformation. As he drove by, he decided to stop and talk to the new owner. As they talked, the old owner asked, “How did you accomplish all this? You barely had enough money to buy the farm.”

The new owner smiled and said, “I owe it all to you. This property was covered with acres and acres of diamonds.”

The previous owner said, “There weren’t diamonds here. I knew every inch of this property.”

The new owner pulled a piece of black rock out of his pocket and showed it to him. He said, “Diamonds look like coal in their unfinished form.”

The previous owner said, “That’s a diamond? I remember seeing lots of those all over the land, and I was frustrated because it made farming and plowing difficult.”

The new owner said, “Well, it’s obvious you don’t recognize a diamond when you see one.”

My question to you is this; Do you recognize who you are in Christ? Do you see what God has done on the inside of you? You are not the same person you used to be, you are brand new. For years you may have seen yourself according to the way others saw you, or what they said you were; but now it’s time to change what you see. Ultimately you are who God says you are, so begin to see yourself that way. God says that you are forgiven, you are righteous, you are more than a conqueror, you are healed, you are blessed and much more. Do you still see yourself as a dark rock, or do you see yourself as a diamond in the rough? Diamonds are valuable; and as a new creation in Christ, so are you.

As I close, I just want to encourage you to see yourself as God sees you. The way you see yourself is the way that you will experience life. Quit looking at the old, and begin to see the new that came with your new life in Jesus Christ. Be blessed!