What if you impact your circumstances more than they impact you. Today, in a culture of comfort, reading a letter to encourage others from a jail cell speaks for itself. It’s time for a mind shift. Here are a few ways that Philippians should change your life perspective:
Putting life into a purposeful perspective. Paul writes “For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain (Philippians 4:21).” Paul knows that if he is living, his soul purpose is to glorify Christ.
Putting self into a smaller perspective. In a Youtube rockstar culture, it is so freeing to think smaller of self like Jesus did so we can love each other well. “In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant (Philippians 2:5-7).”
Putting life in a forward-thinking perspective. [tweetable author=”@toddlollar”] The Good News of Jesus is that He frees us out of dwelling on the past into a Christ-centered future. [/tweetable]“But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus (Philippians 3:13-14).”
Putting our minds in a Christ-centered limitless perspective. It’s natural to live being swayed and limited by circumstances, but the Good News is that Jesus saved us into His Kingdom. Like His Kingdom, we now cannot be shaken by circumstances, because, like Paul, we live in the truth of being able to do all things through Christ who gives us strength. “I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through him who gives me strength (Philippians 4:11-13).”
How has Christ changed your perspective? How do you impact your circumstances rather than let circumstances impact you? Let’s continue the conversation by leaving a comment.