It's All About Perspective

The study Tom and I have been working on for months now, The Battlefield of the Mind, has been sinking in more than I realized, and I’m not complaining, by any means!  I find myself considering things differently than I used to – differently than most people do.  Of course, that’s not really out-of-the-ordinary for me, as those of you who know me would agree.   The old, “normal” thought patterns actually make it easier to stay in difficulty, struggle, worry, anxiety, etc.  I’m seeing things from God’s point of view much more often now, and it’s amazing how much better my attitude is because of it.

A dear friend’s ministry prayer letter has a good example to make this clear.  One of the recent prayer requests concerned a change of law in India requiring people who are there on a tourist visa not only to leave the nation every six months for a new visa, but to stay away for at least two months before returning.  You can imagine what havoc this could wreak for missionaries, both for consistency in ministry, and for costs associated with having to travel away from the home field frequently for extended periods.

As I began to pray, however, I found the new perspective creeping in.  I prayed for the body of Christ in India to rise up, putting into practice what they have been learning of the Word and the Spirit – that there will be no falling behind when the missionaries have to be gone for longer periods of time.  (After all, missionaries are really in other lands to train up nationals to do the work of the ministry without outside workers required, aren’t they?)  I also prayed for the missionaries’ hearts to be enlarged beyond their previous borders so that the two months in another land is not considered “wasted time,” but truly becomes a part of the mission field to which they have been called by God.

None of this takes away from praying, commanding, declaring, and decreeing concerning the natural laws of the land.  But our victory is not from the natural laws making it easy for us to do what God calls us to do.  Our victory has already been won by Jesus Christ, Who has given us the authority and power to live it out regardless of the circumstances.  When we begin to live like this, we slam the door on the devil’s efforts to steal from us through grumbling, complaining, etc.  The wonderful thing is that it just takes a different perspective – God’s perspective.

Praying for God’s so-much-bigger perspective for you, my sisters!

Don't Go There!

Several months ago, Tom and I began a study using The Battlefield of the Mind book and study guide by Joyce Meyer.  We are going through it slowly, one chapter at a time, answering questions from it, and then discussing it with one another, so it’s much like going back to school.  It’s forcing me to chew on what I’m reading, rather than just zipping through the material quickly without absorbing it.  I’m actually learning it.  Just this morning, the Lord ministered to me using one of the key points in the book, the gist of which is, You don’t have to take ownership of every thought that comes to you.

I was putting off getting out of bed, though I’d been awake quite a while, alternating between praying and thinking about “things.”  As I drifted into thoughts about the non-relationship between one of my sons and me, and between my sister and me, the familiar trap of condemnation and guilt began to draw me in as I considered my being the common factor in both relationships.  Right in the midst of it, the Lord spoke clearly, “You don’t have to go there unless I take you there.”  Wow!  With those words, He snatched me right out of the downward spiral into which those thoughts were leading me.  My loving Daddy doesn’t want me to live that way any more.  He really wants to help me take every thought captive to the obedience of Christ (2 Cor. 10:5).  Sometimes I’m not even aware just how contrary to Christ my thoughts are, so He chose this morning to wake me up to this trap that has been my normal.

I don’t know what your specific situations are, my beloved sisters.  Be assured the Lord is saying the same thing to you, “You don’t have to go there unless I take you there.”  Turn away from that self-analysis that only sides with the accuser, contrary to what God has declared about you – no matter the situation.  Instead, take those thoughts captive, knowing if there is something in you needing correction, He will bring it to your attention at the right time and in the right way.  You will be convicted, not condemned, and will walk out of it in true humility and freedom because of His mercy and grace.

Romans 8:6 AMP Now the mind of the flesh [which is sense and reason without the Holy Spirit] is death [death that comprises all the miseries arising from sin, both here and hereafter].  But the mind of the [Holy] Spirit is life and [soul] peace [both now and forever].

There is no need to be concerned that you will get “out of balance” in this, refusing to receive correction.  That, too, is a trap of the enemy.

John 5:24 AMP  I assure you, most solemnly I tell you, the person whose ears are open to My words [who listens to My message] and believes and trusts in and clings to and relies on Him Who sent Me has (possesses now) eternal life. And he does not come into judgment [does not incur sentence of judgment, will not come under condemnation], but he has already passed over out of death into life.

How much more freely and confidently we live when led by the Spirit into correction, rather than by the enemy – through our flesh – into condemnation!  I choose God’s freedom from this day forward.  I’m not going with my thoughts into those places any more unless my Daddy takes me there.  How about you?  Freedom in Christ!

My dear friends,

I’m going to share from my heart something I’m dealing with right now.  In preparation for my annual physical, I made a list of all sorts of things that have been going on in my body.  When I told the doctor about them, I also said that I really felt they were all linked to some main issue in my body, though I wasn’t thinking cancer or anything like that.  Anyway, he ordered several different blood tests, which all came back with good results.  He didn’t forget about me, though, and began to question with his staff what it might be.  He had a hunch, and asked me to get one more blood test, which came back positive for Celiac Disease.

Unlike the majority of people, I really did know something about this already because Tom’s dad had a pretty severe case of it.  It took many years for the doctors even to consider it with him, because not as much was known about it at the time, and the food companies hadn’t caught up with the need for as many gluten-free foods, making his journey much more difficult.  Over the years, that has improved greatly – both with doctors and the nutritional side.  Right now, my direction is to see this same doctor on Monday, who will probably send me to a gastroenterologist for an endoscopy to get a biopsy of my small intestine.  I’m not at all thrilled with that idea, but I read in one of the many books at Borders that the procedure is much easier on the patient now than it used to be, so I’m somewhat less apprehensive about it.

I’m not rejoicing over a diagnosis of Celiac Disease (gluten intolerance).  I’m just rejoicing over having a diagnosis finally.  I know that it is an answer to prayer – that either I would receive supernatural healing without ever knowing what it was, or that God would lead me to a doctor who could determine what I am up against, and now stepping on!  I have known for a long time that something was not working right, and I’ve commanded health in my body.  Now I know the name and can come against it specifically – and I can make changes in the natural to work with the healing instead of against it.  The treatment is strictly a matter of the ingredients in the foods I put into my body, so I am responsible for it.

Now for the rough part for me.  The more I think on it, the more foods I realize I must find substitutes for – as well as the methods of cooking.  To think about everything in my diet that contains wheat or other products with gluten when I’m such a bread eater is pretty overwhelming!  Just looking at the variety of books and cookbooks at Borders got me a bit confused.  I told Tom it feels like I’ve just been given an assignment to learn a new language immediately!  One other good thing is that the woman at the doctor’s office, who has the same diagnosis, encouraged me that in making the switch to a gluten-free diet, as difficult as it is at first, you feel so much better so quickly that it makes it worthwhile.

One of the things that I struggle with is the thought of going out to eat and ordering according to my current limitations; that, and how I will manage when I’m right there with you in China or India, and gluten-free may not be as available as it is here.  Maybe that’s why I haven’t gotten clarity just yet on where I’m going next or when.  Father will help me get adjusted to my new way of life a bit so that I can then see how to work it when away from home.

I want so much to stay positive in this, not complaining and murmuring and whining when I discover yet another favorite food that’s off limits now.  I really want to remain thankful, for the Lord is not leaving me alone, and He knew this all along – and He’ll walk with me all the way through it.  I want to bring Him glory even in this early “shock” stage.  At the same time, I need to grasp this new way of eating immediately, so the healing can begin to manifest.

This is longer and rambles more than most of my posts, but I just wanted to share it with you.  I ask you to pray for me to choose God’s peace, no matter how overwhelmed I feel, and for clarity of mind to learn what I need to learn and make the changes needed.  I thank you so much for your friendship and your love – and your prayers!

Much love from the victorious and healed one!

Kay