Our life decisions are so often tied to and influenced by our perspective. There is a great saying that is full of wisdom is that “you can’t fly with the eagles when you are running with the chickens”. Think about the perspective of the eagle way up in the air, versus the chicken down on the ground. Who do you think has the better perspective, the better view of everything that s happening? It is the bird with the higher perspective, the higher vantage point! 

Image courtesy of: bibliobess

Scripture: 
“Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.” – Romans 12:2

Observation/Application: 
Paul urges us to offer our bodies as a living sacrifice to God, and to not have a limited ground level view. But how do we do this? Let’s look at Paul’s 3-step method on how to do this.

Step (1) Separate: we are not to conform to the ways of this world. Gods ways are not our ways. His ways are greater. His power is greater. His weapons are not weapons of this world – they have the divine power to demolish strongholds. Divine power means power of God – the power that created the heaven and the earth, that created life itself and gave us our very lives.

• Ephesians 6:12 says, “our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world”.
• 1 Cor. 2:9 says that “No mind can conceive the things God has prepared for those who love Him.”

To have extraordinary, divine results in our lives, we have to separate from the ways of this world and run with God. This is where we can better understand that we cannot be who God called us to be as leaders when we are running around with the limited perspective of the chicken. We need to have the mind of Christ.

Step (2): Transform: We are to be transformed by renewing and refreshing our minds. How do we renew and refresh our minds? God’s Word. To run with God, we have to know God’s Word. We have to immerse ourselves in God’s Word. We have to know God. We also have to spend time with God, and talk to Him. As we talked about the rule of 5 in previous journal entries, let God’s Word and those who declare God’s Word be some of our primary influences in our lives.

Step (3) Demonstrate: We are to able to test and accept God’s Will in our lives, so that we can walk in His calling for us. We can know ourselves better. God reveals us to ourselves. I have learned more about myself and who I am by knowing where I come from. I was born in the flesh as an Olejarczyk, and my Spirit comes from God our Father in heaven.

We are all just more than a body, a piece of meat. We have a Spirit that is above this body, and above this earth, and comes from God our Father in heaven. And some day our Spirit will return home, when these earth suits that we live in expire and we are reunited with God our Creator. But for now, the Spirit of God lives in me, in this body.

This Spirit that lives in us is the same Spirit that rose Jesus from the grave. This is a power greater than we can conceive. And in following the first two steps, (1) separate from the ways of this world, (i.e. from the way of the chicken) and (2) transform by constantly renewing our minds (via God’s Word), we can access step (3) which is to test and know God’s Will and hear His voice.

These three steps are sequential. We can’t skip to step 3 and then complain because this formula is not working You can’t install the roof when there are no walls. You can’t install the walls before you build the foundation. And you can’t build the foundation in the middle of a hurricane, until you separate yourself from the storm of life.

God’s ways are not our ways. His view is not our view. Think about the perspective of the eagle way up in the air, versus the chicken down on the ground. Who do you think has the better perspective, the better view of everything that s happening? It is the bird with the higher perspective, the higher vantage point!

This is exactly how it is with God. When we are close with Him and have His view, His higher perspective, higher views, his higher thoughts. When we have the mind of Christ, when we walk with Him, when we can hear His voice and operate in His power and the power of the Holy Spirit. And as we are transformed and able to fly with the eagles and in the heavenly realm with God, we have access to His good, pleasing, and perfect Will. We would be so blessed to be transformed and walk in His Presence all of our days.

Make it a great day! I call you blessed!

#Gimme-3-Steps

Prayer:
Dear heavenly Father, thank you for your Word today. Help us to walk in your ways. Guide our every step. Refresh and renew our minds. Separate us from the way of the chicken, and help us to soar with you in the heavenly realms. Fill us with your Holy Spirit, and all of your goodness. We receive you into our hearts and fully surrender to You. We give you all the honor and glory and praise, in Jesus mighty name. Amen.

Today’s full reading: Proverbs 16-18; Romans 12

Scripture References From Today’s Reflection:  

• “but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.” – Isaiah 40:31
• “our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world.” – Ephesians 6:12
• “No mind can conceive the things God has prepared for those who love Him.” – 1 Corinthians 2:9

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