Practicing a Heavenly Perspective

The Overarching Theme of Philippians as Christlikeness in Light of Christ’s Return

We'll be continuing this morning in the letter of Paul to the Philippians in chapter 4 and this morning's Passage is chapter 4 verses 8 and 9. Practicing a heavenly perspective. Practicing a heavenly perspective Philippians is often called the epistle of Christian joy.

Although that is true. I think we could go beyond that. I think that that Really name is wrong or that label is probably too broad to talk about this letter. The overarching theme of this letter is the pursuit of Christ likeness in light of the return of Christ.

The tone is joyful. The theme is pursuing Christ. There are two perspectives in life earthly versus heavenly and. And let's read for the sake of context we'll go back a little bit. So our verses are chapter 4 8 and 9, but let's start back in chapter 3 earthly versus Heavenly.

Chapter 3 look at verse 17. We'll pick it up there. Paul writes brothers join in following my example and look for those who walk according to the pattern you have in us for many walk of whom I often told you and now tell you even crying as enemies of the cross of Christ whose end is Destruction whose God is their stomach and glory is in their shame who set their thoughts on earthly things for our Citizenship is in heaven from which we also eagerly wait for a Savior the Lord Jesus Christ.

Who will transform the body of our humble state into conformity with the body of his glory? By his working through which he is able to even subject all things to himself. Therefore my brothers loved and longed for my joy and crown in this way stand firm in the Lord my beloved.

I Urge you odia and I urge Syntyche to think the same way in the Lord. Indeed I ask you also genuine companion. Help these women who have contended together alongside of me in the gospel. With also Clement and the rest of my fellow workers whose names are in the book of life.

Rejoice in the Lord always again. I will say rejoice. Let your considerate spirit be known to all men. The Lord is near. Be anxious for nothing but in everything by prayer and petition with Thanksgiving.

Let your requests be made known to God and the peace of God which surpasses all. Comprehension will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus verse 8. Finally brothers. Whatever is true. Whatever is dignified.

Whatever is right. Whatever is pure. Whatever is lovely. Whatever is commendable if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise. Consider these things the things you have learned and received and heard and seen in me.

Practice these things and the God of peace will be with you. Earthly versus heavenly. You know, we can think of maybe an illustration that's simple like the glass half-empty. There are different perspectives, right?

You could look at that glass and say it's half empty or you could look at the same glass and say it's half Full of water, but this goes beyond just a perspective. Right. It doesn't matter really about the glass or how much liquid is inside of it.

We can have a negative or positive attitude in life. But this kind of perspective is earthly versus heavenly and it transcends the objective reality. We see around us. It's not about whether how much water is in that cup.

It's about the one who made the minerals that make the glass. Who who created the water. Who created the desk that the cup is on. Even thinking about going beyond just Circumstances, that's the perspective.

Paul uses this negative positive contrast really throughout this whole letter. The contrast of earthly versus heavenly flows throughout. Essentially the entire writing. Let's look at this just real quickly.

We'll look at a few examples here. We turn this on earthly versus Heavenly. Well, let's see if we can trace this through the letter without rereading all of these passages. Just look at chapter 1 verses 15 through 17 earthly versus heavenly.

Those with a pure motive of love. Versus those with a motive of selfish ambition. Even chapter 1 verses 27 and 28 living together for the faith versus those who Oppose the faith. Earthly versus heavenly we can see in chapter 2 this theme goes all the way through verses 1 through 3 having affection sympathy and humility.

Versus those with conceited and selfish ambition who only look out for their own interests. Look at verses 12 through 14 those who have a fearful reverence of God. Versus those who grumble and complain against God.

Earthly versus heavenly in Chapter 2 verses 23 through 20 or 20 through 22. Excuse me being genuinely concerned for others. Versus those who only seek their own interest. Earthly versus heavenly. A couple examples in chapter 3.

Chapter 3 verses 2 and 3 those who think they're justified by works versus those who are justified by God alone. And then finally from our passage this morning in the context chapter 3 verses 18 through 21 professing Christians who revel in worldly liberties and don't pursue godliness.

Versus true believers who pursue Christ likeness and demonstrating godliness. Earthly versus Heavenly, there are really only those two perspectives in life and what you believe is going to determine how you live your life.

What are you thinking about? Well, what you're thinking about is what you're talking about. What you're talking about is what you're doing. So this perspective is important because it has to do with how you live.

How do you live your life? There are two perspectives in life earthly versus heavenly practicing a heavenly perspective as We've seen from Paul's Contrast right in his logical flow of thought. What you believe affects how you live.

Your perspective determines your reality. Your perspective determines how you live. Your perspective. Determines how you deal with adversity. Right, we all go through storms or trials. Paul was in the middle of one yet.

He had joy. Joy is not possible without a heavenly perspective. And that is what God's Word has for us this morning. Philippians was written by the Apostle Paul to the believers in Philippi to communicate his thanksgiving and Rejoicing in their partnership in the gospel and to exhort them to walk in unity and Christ-likeness.

As well as to remain loyal to the gospel while defending it against opponents of the faith. And Paul closed his letter with a final exhortation to the Philippians to live in unity to be joyful in their circumstances and to continue in prayer in all things in the passage today.

The Apostle gives two life-changing commands for Christian living so that you may know how to focus your thoughts on heavenly things and practice godliness in your life.

Heavenly Thinking and Holy Living in Philippians 4:8-9

To.

Life-changing commands for Christian living number one heavenly thinking. Heavenly thinking in verse 8 and number 2 holy living verse 9. 2 life-changing commands for Christian living number 1 heavenly thinking verse 8.

Finally brothers, whatever is true. Whatever is dignified. Whatever is right. Whatever is pure. Whatever is lovely. Whatever is commendable if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise.

Consider these things. Paul is using very specific examples of what a heavenly worldview looks like. Whatever things are true as in a matter of fact the quality or state of truth. This is more than objective truth about reality.

This is divine truth. Let's think about the way the word truth is used in the scriptures. What is Paul talking about? Whatever is true? This is divine truth. Truth number one in God. Look at what Paul writes in his two letters to Timothy God who desires all people to be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth.

First Timothy. God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth. Second Timothy. How about knowledge of the truth in Christ? Knowledge of the truth in Christ in Christ. You also when you heard the word of truth the gospel of your salvation and believed in him.

We're sealed with the promised Holy Spirit who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it to the praise of his glory Ephesians 1. And. Then again Paul same letter Ephesians 4 you have heard about him and were taught in him as the truth is.

In.

Jesus.

How about the promised Holy Spirit according to the words of Jesus? When the spirit of truth comes he will guide you into all the truth. For he will not speak on his own authority. But whatever he hears he will speak and he will declare to you the things that are to come John 16.

How about whatever is true is in God's Word? Jesus said sanctify them in the truth. Your word is.

Truth.

So Paul's explaining the things that believers ought to be putting their focus on. What should we be putting our focus on? Whatever is true He's not talking about worldly philosophy or Greek rhetoric.

He's talking about the revealed mind of Christ from the Word of God, whatever is true whatever is dignified is Having the qualities that merit recognition in a specified way. This is honorable according a great deal of respect.

Especially because of wisdom character or holiness. It is the idea of being above reproach. The Greek concept for honorable is literally worthy of respect a worldly perspective is Not worthy of respect.

Earthly attitudes should not mark the believer. Whatever things are right is the idea of what is necessary Legally or morally in view of certain requirements of justice to be just fair Equitable not from a human point of view in what is right.

This is divine righteousness. He is saying to contemplate God's divine standard of holiness. Those without Christ are stuck in an endless cycle of doom and gloom ultimately in their own Destruction in the long run because they don't have this viewpoint.

Whatever is pure is wholesome and untainted by immorality to be free from contamination or Dedicated or consecrated by God. Think of the concept of being morally clean and undefiled in living. Believers should be different than the world.

Instead putting their hope and their thought life in heavenly things. Whatever things are lovely is a godliness causing pleasure or delight. It's pleasing and agreeable. Paul is directing the believer to be gracious to focus on kindness.

Whatever is commendable is the idea of a good report or deserving praise? Think of something highly regarded or respected our Thought life and focus must determine how we live. What Paul means by worthy of praise is virtue as in uncommon character excellence of character or exceptional civic virtue.

Anything praiseworthy means to express warm approval or admiration of something. But he is talking about behavior. Behavior or action showing moral quality or usefulness. When thinking about character it is the idea of being kind courteous respectful to others and Paul ends the list of heavenly things with a command to focus your thoughts on them.

He says think about these things and the word Paul uses here to meditate or consider comes from a word whose root meaning is to determine by mathematical process to reckon or to calculate. Paul is telling you to process these things.

He uses specific language to communicate the idea to give careful thought to a matter. To think about it to consider it to ponder. To let the mind dwell on these heavenly things. We put what we put into our minds determines what comes out in our words and actions and Paul is telling you to reprogram.

Reprogram your mind. Reprogram your mind with thoughts that are true honest just pure lovely of good report virtuous praiseworthy. Is your mind ever filled with? Impure or unrighteous thoughts. I should see everybody's arm going up.

Don't hurt your your shoulder when that arm shoots up. That's a rhetorical question. Of course. The answer is yes. This passage teaches us to examine what we are putting into our minds. And that might be through television through books movies even magazines.

I Was gonna say newspaper, but they probably don't make those too much anymore. You know for for us in our contemporary time an improper use of the Internet. Instead replace harmful input with wholesome material.

Most importantly. Read God's Word and pray. Ask God to help you focus your mind. Help God to help you focus your mind on what is good and what is good and pure. And I'm not saying that it's easy it isn't easy this this is not easy it takes effort.

Paul says to be intentional about it think on these things. It takes practice, but it can be done. You know if you're struggling in this area when is the last time you help you. You ask God to simply help you.

God will you help me today? Have you asked for God to help focus your thoughts. But we need to make a point here that the truth that you know Paul starts off with here in verse 8 it isn't secular philosophy.

This is not worldly wisdom. This is not the wisdom of the of the kings of the day or the elite people that rule society. No, this is the truth. According to the word not according to the world. The truth according to the word.

Right. God desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth in Christ. You heard the word of truth the gospel of your salvation. As in the truth is in Jesus. The Holy Spirit of truth has come and he will guide you into all the truth and he will declare to you the things That are to come.

Remember Jesus is prayer for you. Right. We looked at it. Jesus said sanctify them in the truth. Your word is truth. So we need to make that that is an important point we have to make. This is the truth according to the Word of God.

Not philosophy or the wisdom of the age to life-changing commands for Christian living.

Number one.

Heavenly thinking so that you may know how to focus your thoughts. And number two. Holy living. Verse 9. The things you have learned and received and heard and seen in me. Practice these things and the God of peace will be with you.

Paul is making it clear that the things that God's Word teaches are what we should practice. When he's talking about what the Philippians have learned He is saying that they have gained knowledge or they have gained skill by instruction from God's Word.

Which he taught them. Paul is reminding the believers in Philippi of the things they learned from him and to practice that in their own lives. To practice them in their own lives what they had received from him was a fact of life.

The word to receive Implies agreement or approval in regard to his teaching and preaching. So Paul has given them a real tangible example of Christian conduct. This is one they can they can look at they can see this they can grab it they can they can do.

This thinking determines belief and belief determines behavior. Paul ends this reminder with a command to practice what he has taught. He is saying for them to bring about or to accomplish in their own lives.

What he has shown them from his teaching and preaching of the gospel through activity it is the idea of doing or accomplishing his teaching in their day-to-day lives and This is a command given with a promise.

The peace of God is promised again. Paul repeats himself from verse 7. This is not a human. Peace. This is a state of well-being. Perfect harmony in mind body and spirit it defies human understanding.

This is not human peace. This is God. Peace. It is a profound inner contentment and spiritual calmness and Joy, that is divine and cannot be shaken by earthly circumstances. This is not temporal. This is a real lasting happiness and inner contentment.

Remember this teaching the most important perspective. Today is what you think about Jesus. Right, what do you think or believe about Jesus? What is your perspective about Jesus? And we can even ask the question like this.

What is your Jesus perspective? For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son. That whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his son into the world to condemn the world.

But in order that the world might be saved through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned. But whoever does not believe is condemned already because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.

And this is the judgment that Light has come into the world and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil. For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light lest his work should be exposed.

But whoever does what is true comes to the light so that it may be clearly seen that his works have been carried out in God. John 3. An important passage here. Say well that you can't just read that every time preacher and say that's the gospel.

Yes, I can. Because that is the gospel. This is what the truth is. We need to hold fast to the truth and For this connection here, it's kind of cool in verse 21 of this section. We see another word for doing or practice to do or practice again.

It's now remember verse 9 from our passage. Paul said to do to practice to be engaged in and that's what Jesus is saying at the end of this section in John 3 21. Jesus is literally saying to do or to carry out Christian doctrine to execute or to perform the truth.

See what you think.

Determines what you practice and most importantly what you think or what you believe about Jesus. Determines what will happen to you when you die. What will happen to you in the afterlife? This is so important.

He says the things you've learned and received and heard and seen in me. Practice these things and the God of peace will be with.

You.

Spend time every day in God's Word. You know start your day with a morning devotion and a quiet time with the Lord. Listen to Paul's message here. The things you have learned. Do the things you have learned.

Practice.

You know and even a morning devotion time with some with the word is is spending some time with the Lord communing with him. Being in prayer with him. A healthy prayer life is critical to godly living and Oftentimes the amount of time we're spending reading the scriptures Correlates directly to how much time we're talking to God.

How much time you're reading the Bible will match up with how much time you're talking to God? Read your Bible every day. Make a reading plan. Give yourself a goal and stick to it. Don't have time too busy.

I Mean, you know, that isn't true. You know it, you know, that's not true. No one's too busy to have a quiet time with the Lord and read the Bible. This has to be an important Intentional part of your day that's planned.

We all have phones and apps. Use your reminder app. There's so many things that we have as resources. Make time. This is the most important thing you can do every day. Read your Bible and cut other things out if necessary.

Just ask yourself. How much time are you spending? Watching streaming shows on TV or the cable. Versus reading your Bible. Say well, I've read my Bible today. I've got my time in. I'm so pleased that you spent 20 minutes today reading your Bible and you spent eight hours watching reruns on Netflix.

Whatever your show is. You should ask yourself. Am I even spending even close to the right amount of time? Am I even reading my Bible every day. Be real with yourself? But don't be hard on yourself. There is now no condemnation in Christ.

Start today. Start today. Read your Bible. Pray to God with all your concerns and requests. Leave nothing out. Read your Bible. If you do this consistently you will start to grow in your understanding of God's Word as The Holy Spirit begins to increase your understanding of the word He will also increase your conviction that the word is true.

An ever-increasing Conviction that the Word of God is the truth the the ministry of the Holy Spirit and Wow, what a ministry it is. When in the inner part of your soul and your inner being you read something from the Bible and you know that that's the truth.

You can run through a brick wall when the Holy Spirit allows that understanding to happen. He always pairs it up with the conviction that it's true. It's not just theological acumen. No, this is real.

I have to live my life according to what this says because why why would you need to do that? Because it's true. It's the truth you know and this is a really important part of our daily walk as Christians what we're doing with our free time and You know as there's one finger out there.

There's three back at me. I need to say we and us here. This is something that we all struggle with. You know if you're not reading your Bible every day and taking every thought to the Lord in prayer you are fooling yourself.

If you think you're going to miraculous. Miraculously start living a life marked by holiness or godliness on your own. Forget it. Forget about it only through the power of the Holy Spirit and His weapon of choice will that happen.

And the weapon of choice for the Holy Spirit is the Bible. The Holy Spirit's weapon is the Bible the sword of truth so wield the sword and read your Bible. I Mean to try to have some kind of you're gonna start living a life marked by godliness on your own.

Without the Word of God without the Holy Spirit. He says the things you have heard in me the things you have seen in me. Do them practice these? Things. This is not some kind of a far-reaching unreachable esoteric.

Weird.

Abstract. No, this is something that's real that we can reach out and grab on to we can hold on to this we can live our life by this. Because if you try to live your life without without the Bible without the Word of God.

You're like a soldier going to war without a rifle. It's like you're out there. It's World War three and you're in your your shorts and sandals. Get armed get equipped get ready for battle. Right, you're a soldier going to war without his rifle.

If you think you're gonna automatically start living a certain way without God's Word. This is what we have to remember. This is what we have to live by two life-changing commands for Christian living.

Number one Heavenly thinking so that you may know how to focus your thoughts and number two Holy living so that you can pursue godliness in your life. The context of Paul's argument and really his logical flow of thought here Starts earlier in this letter Paul is making his point with a negative positive contrast.

So it's kind of think about our illustration this morning a Negative and positive and he uses these contrasts throughout the letter and he's building this case. So first he gives the negative. Here's the first the negative contrast earthly mindsets and unbelief.

Right, we saw this in chapter 3 brothers join in following my example and look for those who walk according to the pattern. You have in us for many walk of whom I have often told you and now tell you even crying as enemies of the cross of crop of the cross of Christ.

Whose end is destruction. Whose God is their stomach and glory is in their shame. Who set their thoughts on earthly things. For our citizenship is in heaven from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior the Lord Jesus Christ who will Transform the body of our humble state into the conformity with the body of his glory.

By his working through which he is able to even subject all things to himself. So this is this is more than destruction or waste. This is the idea of annihilation. Annihilation complete obliteration and total defeat.

Earthly mindsets and unbelief. Glory can mean fame recognition renown honor or even prestige. The ones who have their minds set on earthly things are Renowned or recognized for their disgrace or shame.

They are famous for their painful feeling of humiliation or Distress caused by the consciousness of wrong or foolish behavior. This is the result of earthly thinking earthly or worldly thinking with the implication of personal gratification earthly mindsets and unbelief.

Now he's going to give the positive a Heavenly perspective that only comes from belief in the Christ Jesus heavenly thinking and holy living. Finally brothers, whatever is true. Whatever is dignified.

Whatever is right. Whatever is pure. Whatever is lovely. Whatever is commendable if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise. Consider these things the things you have learned and received and heard and seen in me.

Practice these things and the God of peace will be with you. What a person thinks determines what they believe. A Correct perspective is the difference between life and death. The most important perspective in context of Paul's writing is the return of Christ.

Everything Paul writes about must be placed under that view. From beginning to end Paul has the return of the Lord in mind. Paul has eternal things in mind. Look at just some of the references here. Philippians 1 10 for the day of Christ.

Philippians 2 10 and 11 at the name of Jesus. Philippians 2 16 in the day of Christ. Philippians 3 14 the goal for the prize. Paul has eternal things in mind. Everything he's doing all of the the contrasting he's using this earthly versus heavenly perspective the negative positive.

Contrast everything in the letter falls under this. Really the the overarching theme the return of Jesus the return of Christ. Paul has eternal things in mind to life-changing commands heavenly thinking so that you may know how to focus your thoughts and Holy living so that you can pursue godliness in your life.

Paul's thinking is Saturated with the reality of the return of Christ and the future glory, right the body of his glory. This is a heavenly perspective. The most important perspective is is really what what do you think about Jesus?

Who is Jesus to you, right? What do you think or believe about?

Jesus.

Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life. Whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God. Remains on him John 3 a little bit later. You thought I was done with John 3. We're just getting started.

And we're gonna do John 3 next week. I'm just kidding. I don't know if we're gonna do John 3 next week. You know, what does a person think about Jesus? What do you believe about Jesus? Because nothing else matters except that question and how you answer that question Jesus is the source of a heavenly perspective.

You cannot change the way you think without Jesus and you cannot have a heavenly perspective without Jesus. Last week we looked at the Antidote to the problem of anxiety as we looked at verses 4 through 7 of chapter 4.

I 4 4 through 7 are The life-changing commands and this additional promise from verses 8 and 9 two commands for everyday living so that you can know how to focus your thoughts on heavenly things and practice godliness in your life.

The commands of heavenly thinking and Holy living and the repeated promise of the peace of God in verses 8 and 9. The the promise of the peace of God in verse in verses 8 and 9 are where Paul lands the plane.

Really? Like he's he's coming in on his his conclusion to what he's he's writing here. This is important. So he's he's said this this promise in In verses 4 through 7 and now he's gonna land the plane and say this is how you apply these verses.

This is what you do with it. Essentially verses 8 and 9 are the application of those verses in verses 8 and 9. Paul explains that by focusing your thoughts and.

Being.

Intentional in pursuing holiness you can be free of anxiety. There's a connection there. It's bring it all to the Lord. Bring all your prayers all your petition with Thanksgiving bring them to the Lord and the peace of God will be with you.

But then look at what he's saying. Think about what is good. What is true practice those things and the peace of God will be with you. So 8 and 9 are simply the application of verses 4 and 7. Their life-changing commands and it again goes with the promise in verse 8.

Paul is using very specific examples of what this worldview looks like. Right. It's more than objective truth about reality. This is divine truth as in truth in God. Knowledge of the truth in Christ the promised Holy Spirit according to the words of Jesus.

Whatever is true is in God's Word. So Paul is explaining the things that believers ought to be putting their focus on. Right. A worldly perspective is not from God. Earthly attitude should not mark the believer.

Paul is saying to contemplate God's divine standard. Look at God's standard of holiness. Right. We don't want to be like unbelievers who are stuck in an endless cycle of doom and gloom. Ultimately, it's their own destruction in the long run because they don't believe in Jesus.

Believers should be different from the world. Our belief should match up. There should be something that's different about us. Instead we should be putting our hope and our thought life in heavenly things not being distracted by the earthly realities.

Paul is directing the believer to be gracious to focus on kindness. Our Thought life and focus must determine how we live because Paul is talking about behavior. You know Paul ends the list of heavenly things with the command to focus your thoughts on them.

He doesn't just list all of these things and then leave it there. He says these are the things that I want you to think about. He's saying to process them and he uses very specific Words here to I to express the idea to communicate to give careful thought to a matter to consider something.

Right.

We say don't dwell on that something bad happens to us. You need to let it go. Don't dwell on that. Paul is saying I want you to dwell on this. You know park your car here plant your tent here. Don't move on.

Dwell on these things. Spend some time here thinking about this. Don't move on too quick from this. What we put into our minds determines what comes out in our words and actions. This is very important.

Paul is telling us to reprogram our thoughts. To reprogram our thoughts and to focus on the things that are true. What do we know? Well, what we know is true is from the Word of God. Assurance and salvation.

The promise of a sin-free glorified body. That's what Paul wants them to think about. Verses 8 and 9. Teach you to examine what you are thinking about and what you are allowing into your mind. What you are putting into your mind.

Ask God to help you focus in this area and Paul says to be intentional about it. Reckon these things. Calculate these things. He says to think on these things. The command of heavenly thinking so that you may know how to focus your thoughts.

In order to know how to focus your thoughts you need to know what you're supposed to be thinking about. Paul isn't just saying hey rethink something else. He's saying this is what you need to think about.

Whatever is true in Verse 9 Paul is making it clear that the things that God's Word teaches are what we should practice. Thinking determines belief and belief determines behavior. He is saying for them to accomplish this in their lives.

His activity. Accomplish the activity you've seen in me, which of course goes back to teaching and preaching of the gospel. It's the idea of doing his teaching in their everyday lives. This is a command given with a promise again.

This piece of God is promised again. Listen to Paul's message. What you have learned. Do it what you have learned. Practice it. Pray to God with all your concerns and requests. Leave nothing out. The command of holy living so that you can practice Godliness in your life and notice there's a there's an order there.

First you can control your thought life. Then you can control your life. If you're if you're out of control with your thought life, you're out of control. Paul is saying focus your thought life and then you can focus on how you're living the command of holy living.

So that you can practice Godliness in your life and the promise that the God of peace will never leave you nor forsake you. Seeking God through prayer is important to remind ourselves that God is sovereign.

You're acknowledging God's sovereignty. Every time you open your mouth to talk to him and when you're in the middle of a storm or a trial or adversity. You're demonstrating your faith by talking to your father.

Go to God. Seeking God through prayer is important to remind ourselves that God is Sovereign. He causes everything in the long run for the good of his people. Right. We know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.

Romans 8. Another thing you can do is pray through the Psalms. Praying through the Psalms and dwelling on the glorious truths of God's strength and provision is important in battling anxiety and fear.

Because God is a fortress of strength. It is to him to which we should or to whom we should flee in times of trouble. Psalm 42, but each day the Lord pours his unfailing love upon me and through each night I sing his songs praying to God who gives me life.

Ultimately our relationship with God in focusing on his love and not ourselves will remove worldly fear. Yet the fear of the Lord is wise. Proverbs 1 fear of the Lord is the foundation of true knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline.

Worldly fear is not wise. But perfect love from God in terms of our love and trust in God casts out fear first. John 4 such love has no fear because perfect love expels all fear. If We are afraid it is for fear of punishment and this shows that we have not fully experienced his perfect love.

Having the wrong attitude about life can lead a person down a spiral of destruction. Just your focus, what are you thinking about? What is your focus on today? Do you have an earthly perspective or do you have a heavenly perspective.

An earthly perspective leads down. A Heavenly perspective leads up because it forces you to look up a Life focused on Jesus can enable you. It can enable you to have a heavenly perspective and Change the way you live your life and how you deal with the storms of life.

Have you experienced a trial in your life? I'm sure that's a yes for all of us. Are you in a storm today? Well, what does a heavenly perspective tell you about it. What does God's Word say right. Jesus said I am the way the truth and the life.