Perception Is Not Reality

Hopelessness and despair are the two biggest tools of the enemy. If he can get you to focus on what might happen instead of relying on the Lord to see you through every situation, then he wins. Time and time again when adversity hits, we have prayed and looked to the Father for help. He always responds.

Such was the case a few weeks ago when we had a major failure of one of the brackets that the hitch bolts to on the 2nd unit’s motorhome. The team was 700 miles from home sitting in a rest area and could not move any further without the hitch breaking the rest of the way. The sequence of events that followed could have only been orchestrated by our Poppa.

My first thought was to go get them, 700 miles, a ton of fuel and time, not a great option…then it hit me pray and ask for prayer. A Facebook post later and we had folks all over praying and help coming from every direction. The response was overwhelming. I was contacted by a friend, who had been contacted by a friend, who lives close to the rest area to help find a mobile welder. He made a call to a local shop setting up our ability to get the bracing re-welded after the shop had already closed for the day. From the time of the first call for help to the the mobile welder being on site, about an hour.

What seemed like a monumental problem turned into a minor inconvenience that delayed the team about 2 and a half hours. Cost, $200.00, a small amount in the grand scheme of things. The lesson, if the enemy of our soul can get us to take our eyes off the Lord, then he will win every time. When trouble hits, and it will, look to the Father for answers and keep moving forward.

Blessings

Perception Is Not Reality
by Os Hillman

“The lions may roar and growl, yet the teeth of the great lions are broken.” – Job 4:10

In the advertising business we often say that “perception is reality” for the person who views our advertising message. It does not matter whether the audience believes the message to be true, only that they perceive it to be true. Their actions will be the same whether they believe it or only perceive it.

The enemy of our souls is very good at this game. He may bring on us what we perceive to be true when it is a lie. It may appear that there is no way around a situation. He may bring great fear on us. When we buy into his lie, we believe only what we have chosen to perceive to be true. It usually has no basis of truth. Such was the case when Peter looked on the waters during a night boat journey with the other disciples. At first glance, he and the disciples screamed with fear, thinking that what they saw was a ghost. It was actually Jesus.

Satan’s name means “accuser.” He travels to and fro to accuse the brethren. He brings an impressive front to all he does, yet behind that front is a weak, toothless lion with a destination that has already been prepared in the great abyss. He knows his destination, but he wants to bring as many with him as possible; so he often has a big roar, but little bite.

The next time some event comes into your life that creates fear and trembling, first determine the source. Look past the emotions and evaluate the situation in light of God’s Word. Perception is not always reality.