Having the Right Perspective

On Mondays and Fridays from 9:00-9:30 I lead the chapel time for the third grade through ninth grade students.  September often is a challenging month for students in Japan.  This year there is the extra challenge of dealing with all the changes brought about because of COVID.  I wanted to encourage our students that God is here to strengthen us and will help us to face challenges in our lives.  I showed an optical illusion picture where some people saw a young woman and others saw an older women.  After pointing out a few details the students were able to see both women.  I pointed out that it isn’t difficult to change our perspective.  Then I showed a photograph of a horse that was tied to a plastic chair. In the horse’s mind he could not leave because he was tied up.  Of course he could have easily run away by dragging the lightweight chair behind him.  Often we make life or situations hard because of how we think.  Our perspective affects how we live.  The Bible tells us that the type of outlook we have is a key to being successful and to live a happy life.  If we have a negative perspective then we will put our faith in seeing negative things happening in our lives.  God helps us to have a heavenly perspective.  The Bible says that for those who follow God, He gives them the mind of Christ (1Cor. 2:16).  It’s amazing that we can think like God thinks!  His perspective is always that we can overcome any obstacle when we rely on Him.  I want to help our students to have hope and faith that God will help them.  He helps them with their studies, tests, relationships, and for their future.  He is a good God who loves them.