Things that matter more, Part 1

Grace and Grounds is about identity purpose and restoration, about who we truly are and who we were created to be and about our hearts. It is not about Personal Development.In the previous podcast on what matters most, we looked at what most matters to us based on what we currently know. More importantly though, what is the higher perspective on who we are and therefore what matters to us and how does it relate to how God sees things.What is this higher perspective and what is God's perspective?We need to be open to learn and be corrected (Prov. 3:12). Restoration requires humility and readiness to change (2 Chron. 7:14). Principles to apply in this realignment with the higher perspective and God's view on it are:PrayerfullyWith humilityPreparedness to learn moreSeek God's perspectiveWhen we seek God we will find Him (Jer. 29:12-14; Matt. 7:7-11. Draw near to God, cleanse yourself (James 4:8) and humble yourself (Verse 10).Question: Do you think that what matters most to you, matters to God? Why? How do you know?In order to answer this, we need to know God. Adn to know Him, we need a relationship with Him as our Almighty Father. But how do we know this? 1 Cor. 13:9-12 says we only know in part, so we cannot know Him completely. Jesus revealed what He heard from the Father (John 15:15) and 1 Cor. 2:10 says God revealed things He prepared for those who love Him, through His Sprit (Also look at Eph. 1:9, Col 1:26; Rom. 16:26). Deut. 29:29 again talks about secret things revealed to us forever.The key to a higher perspective therefore is to draw near to God. It starts with a hunger and a thirst for Him: Seek, ask, explore, ask, knock.If your cup is full, how can you fill it. You have to empty it first. We have to get rid of preconceptions, lies, noise, clutter, pretense, imitation, sin. We do this by becoming still, like I explained in my first podcast named Stop and be still.How much of what we think matters is based on a perspective where God isn't present? How much of our perspective is based on a higher perspective?Start with what you see or know. This is a journey. It's like gold refined, tested and purified', similar to our faith being purified in 1 Pet 1:7. Keep moving.What is already inside of us and that doesn't belong forms a barrier between us and God. As we empty ourselves, and fill ourselves with truth of who we are, the counterfeit version of who we are disappears and more space becomes available to be filled with the truth about who we are and what matters to us.You can do this with a friend, family member or in a group depending on your social circumstances.This process of discovery who you are therefore runs hand in hand with moving closer to God. Approach this carefully, intentionally, honestly, truthfully.Generally speaking, what matters to God is our heart. When God saw what He created in Genesis 1, He saw that it was good. Everything He created matters to Him, including us, especially because we are made in His image (Gen. 1:26-27).We still need to become more specific about what matters to God, about this higher perspective. One way to do this, is to look at what pleases God, e.g. doing good (Matt. 6:1-4) and faith (Heb. 11:6). (Also look at 1 Thess. 5:16-18; 1 Sam. 15:22 and Proverbs 10, 11 and 21 for example.) Micah 6:8 furthermore says mercy, justice, humility matters to Him.Can we say without doubt that we are living based on what matters to God? Are we looking at what matters to us from a higher perspective and from what please God?Another way to see what matters to God, is what He blesses (Matt 5:1-12) and looking at what Jesus teaches (Matt. 5-8) and the apostles teach in the New Testament.Again, How does what matters to us align with what matters to God? If it doesn't align, what do we need to change?What has been shared here applies to us all. We need to be more specific even more, especially with regard to each of us individually. More on this in Part 2. Remember we want to move closer to who we really are. Knowing God's perspective is important in this. We need to get rid of what stands between us and God. Knowing what matters to us will help us understand who we truly are.