2 Kings 6:16-17

“Don’t be afraid!” Elisha told him. “For there are more on our side than on theirs!” Then Elisha prayed, “O LORD, open his eyes and let him see!” The LORD opened the young man’s eyes, and when he looked up, he saw that the hillside around Elisha was filled with horses and chariots of fire.

Perception is reality.  Here we find two men that are in the same situation, facing the same circumstance yet they see two entirely different things; It’s a matter of perceptive.  The way you perceive someone or something determines everything!  It determines the extent in which you can receive from someone and determines weather you fail or succeed; weather you win or lose.  One morning, Elisha’s servant got up early walked outside to see chariots, troop, and horses all around him.  From his perspective, it was over!  He saw death, doom and destruction which caused fear and a sense of hopelessness.  On the other hand, Elisha’s response when facing insurmountable circumstances without hesitation was opportunity and victory!  There was never a question.  When you get up and look at what you face everyday in you world, what do you see?  When facing let downs, set backs, lack, debt, sickness, loss of a job, unfulfilled dreams, or failed/failing marriage what do you see? Failure and loss or success and victory?  Like the servant do you see death and hopelessness or like Elisha do you see opportunity?  Your vision is your future!

We must make a decision to change our perception if we are disgusted with our current reality.  No, changing the way we look the challenges and obstacles we face will not make the better nor will they go away, but it does change how we go through them and where we end up on the other side, if we make it through them.  You will either become paralyzed and stuck in your “stuff” and when that situation fades it something else.  Then the course you started at on is detoured drastically causing you to go down a path you never intend to go.  The devil wants to get you off course.  Sin, as described in Romans 14:23 is not following your conviction, doing anything you believe (trust in, adhere to, rely on) is not right.  This is regardless of stuff you face, people your around, city/country you live in, boss/company you work for or person your married to.  On the other hand, if you change you perception, not only will you make it through the “stuff” you’re facing but you will be stronger, wiser, and on the same course to laid out for yourself.  Two foundational elements to changing you perception are Honor and Wisdom.

Honoring God and Honor His word is a key  element  to change our perception.  The greek word for honor is te-ma which means to value or esteem, to carry weight.  The same word used in John 4:44 which say a prophet has no honor (esteem or weight) in his own home town is used in Acts 5:2 where it says they kept back part of the price of the land sold. The word of God must carry more weight in our life then what we see.  His promises for us must become more vivd that the challenges we face.  What you see and what He says is always in contradiction.  His word that are filled with His promises for us as individuals allow us to see past the challenges of life that we face.  Jesus gives us a spiritual telescope in John 16:33 when He say have peace in ME!  There is going to be problems, trails and what seems like all hell breaking lose in this world, but i have overcome it.  Look to Me(Jesus), have peace.  Do you feed on your doom and gloom tube (TV) more than you feed on His word?  What ever you eat on you are going to add weight to.  Are you fat on the world or fat on His word?  God’s word must have supreme value in order for your perspective to change.  Elisha valued God promise for Him and caused Him to see past the physical world army he was surrounded by to see Heaven’s army around them all!  Do you honor God’s more, doe it carry more weight than anything else in your life?

Wisdom is also a vital element to changing our perception.   Wisdom means God’s perspective.  We need God’s perspective (wisdom) in every area of our life in order to be the people God has called us to be and walk in His will here on earth.  Doubt comes to divide or separate us from our route, getting us off track.  Doubt causes our inner man to be distracted away from the promises that God has for us; distracting us from faith.  Heb . 11:1 speaks of faith being the internal evidence of something that is not seen in the external.  Wisdom amplifies faith, but doubt divides us away from faith and creates fear.  Doubt begins with a thought that is contrary the word of God and continues with a decision.  Accumulated thoughts lead to ongoing decisions and cause us to speak out of the fear and our word over takes our thoughts every time.  The servant saw a massive army, doubt creeped in, and  fear caused him to  ask Elisha what to do(which really mean lets get the heck out of here).  Elisha responded with wisdom (God’s perspective) because honor caused Him to see, faith took over and he spoke out that there was more on his team then the enemy.  His victory was framed and focused by perception.  How do you get wisdom (God’s perspective)?  James 1:5 say, “If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking.” Your success and/or failure is framed and focused by you’re perception.

My prayer for you today is that honor and wisdom  would cause you to overcome the circumstances that are attempting to paralyze and destroy  you today.  That they would cause you to see Him in with you, enabling you to forgive yourself and receive His peace and forgiveness today.  In Jesus name, Amen!