Is Perception Reality?

Many years ago I heard Bishop TD Jakes talking about mountain top experiences and what you can expect after you’ve been there. He said, and I paraphrase, “When the Lord leads you to a mountaintop experience, there will always be a fresh devil waiting at the bottom of the hill to steal your joy.” If I had a nickel for every time this happened…yes, the enemy will always try to steal your joy, ALWAYS!

We just finished one of the hardest job we’ve ever accomplished, 5 days of streaming at 4 different locations that span 850+ miles in 3 states, the annual Hot Rod Drag Week. We knew this would be a difficult job and yet if we prayed through it and planned to the best of our ability, we stood a good chance of completing it with minimal trouble. Our team worked together like clock work, we could not have hoped for a better outcome. Not only was the promoter pleased with our work, they invited us back for next year.

As we drove home from the event, the enemy started his attack. First it was some minor dissension amongst the team and then the every presence self doubt of where the company is heading. Will we make it another year with looming personnel changes and all the upheaval as silly season comes into full swing? The answer, of course we will!

How can I be so confident? Because I have history with the Maker of the universe. Will what comes next look like what I think it should, probably not. But as long as I continue to seek Him and His righteousness, it will be His path for my life. Matt 6:33-34 “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” Remember, there is victory in Jesus!

Blessings

Is Perception Reality?
by Os Hillman

“Yet I have reserved seven thousand in Israel, all whose knees have not bowed to Baal, and every mouth that has not kissed him.” (1 Kings 19:18).

One the great acts of the prophet Elijah took place at Mount Carmel where he called down fire upon the altar of Baal and slaughtered 400 prophets of Baal. I have been to Mount Carmel in Israel and stood upon this mountain where this took place. Once the miracle took place Elijah was forced to flee because Jezebel swore to take his life for what he did.

Elijah went into depression after this event. He fled to the desert and sat under a broom tree and asked God to let him die. He was so discouraged because he felt he was the only godly prophet left in the land of Israel. This is often what happens after God does a significant work through us. Satan comes along and wants to steal what God has done and bring the servant of God down. Satan makes us believe a lie about our situation. This was the case for Elijah.

Elijah?s perception was not reality. He thought he was the last of the prophets. He could not see what God was doing. God informed Elijah that there were actually seven thousand of His representatives in the land who had not bowed down to Baal. Now give some thought to that statement. Elijah thought he was the only one left. God says there are 7,000 left! What a discrepancy in perception and reality.

This is often the case for you and I. We look at our situations and conclude based on the circumstances that reality must be this way. But God says, “No, you do not see what I see or what I know or what I am doing. The situation is very different than what you are perceiving.”

Be careful not to draw conclusions about your situation that may not be based on truth. God always has a plan for His servants that we may not know about. Ask God to give you His perception of the situation, not yours.