Upside Down: Shifting to Jesus’s Perspective

Introduction Getting through the day? Clutching for control? Worry-filled nights and anxious days? Fearing the next crisis? Wanting to give up? We can easily get stuck in our own perspective of life. Our choices, character traits, and emotions perpetuate this mindset. However, what if we reversed our outlook and chose Jesus' upside-down way of living? Jesus taught us to live with an upside-down world view. Love your enemies. The last will be first. Lead through serving. Turn the other cheek. Embrace grace rather than earning salvation. The stress barometer begins dropping by simply reading the words that describe His way of being. This weekly devotional journal challenges you to choose a way of being that will enable you to experience life the way Jesus models. In shifting our perspective to see Jesus' upside-down way of life, we can choose to live out His character and overflow with His grace, joy, peace, and love in order to serve as He calls each of us. The devotional journal is intended to challenge your outlook through thirteen choices introduced in reverse poetry. Weekly devotional readings will enable you to reflect on your own life and recognize areas where you can focus your choices and emotions to grow more in line with Jesus' upside-down perspective. Action steps to practice Jesus' point of view are suggested along with space to create your own activities. The devotional readings are all based on Gospel scriptures so you hear what Jesus says directly to His followers. Choose today to really live and move and have your being in Jesus! (Acts 17:28) Choice 1: Cynicism and Boredom or Awe and Wonder? What Do You See? Indifference deadening the brilliant expanse of the sunrise No longer can we comprehend God's paintbrush flicking turquoise, scarlet, creation sings Instead Scornfulness sliding from our mouths, muted ears No longer do we experience Fascination at shifting clouds above, tiny ants below Now we perceive Grayscale, void, flat No longer noticing Intricate patterns, majestic and minute We tell everyone about What we have made, what we have figured out No longer focusing on Texture, variation, color, tone, pattern, inherent beauty Day by day by day Contempt for diversity, disregard for others not like us Rather than Reverence, falling on our knees in holy consternation Cynical concern, casual complacency, distain dripping No longer sensing The mysterious awe and wonder of a new day (Shift perspective by reading the poem bottom to top.) Week 1 Scripture Reading: Matthew 18:1-5 And he said: "Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven." Matthew 18:3 A child. The greatest in the Kingdom. Why do I say this? A child is teachable, humble, pliable, trusting, and filled with wonder. You are to be like a child in coming to Me. Have you lost this quality as you age? Have you become impatient and cynical, set in your ways and routine? I challenge you to keep the childlike quality of faith; to follow Me, knowing that I am leading you to good; to see others as friends and extend mercy and grace; to be filled with wonder at the beauty of creation as if you are seeing things for the first time; to be humble and teachable. Yes, some of you have lived many years at this point, but you do not know it all and many things you think you know, you really don't. How would you approach life differently if you became like a child in faith today? Would you notice the spittle bugs on the huckleberry branches? Would you pause and watch the cloud formations change shapes? Would you be distracted from your routine by a winsome bird call? Would you excitedly dance and sing when a new beat played? Embrace childlike faith today! Love Me with wonder and awe! *** Choice 4: Shame or Grace? Caught I am unclean And I no longer believe that I can be forgiven I know that Regaining self-respect Is the enemy's lie I am forever tainted, dirty I feel that Shame Became stronger than Grace There came a time when I rose in elegant dance But this will not happen again I curl inward to deflect stones The crowd screams I need to stay hidden in darkness I do not believe that Light will be part of my life Forever Lying naked, prostrate for all to see No longer will I be Beautifully adorned in cleansing forgiveness Instead Mortified humiliation will consume my life Only fools will believe There is a hope and a future for me (Shift perspective by reading the poem bottom to top.) Week 1 Scripture Reading: John 8: 1-11 When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, "Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her." John 8.7 The teachers of the law and the Pharisees threw the woman at My feet as I was teaching in the temple court. The pious men spat, "What do you want to do with her? The Law of Moses commands us to stone such an adulterous woman." I caught a glimpse of the woman's shame-filled eyes lowered in humiliation. I considered the self-righteous glares of those who condemned her. Silently I bent and wrote on the ground, a pause in the heated moment, clearing space for perspective. I was filled with deep compassion for her, just as I am for you in your shame and guilt. My child, all have sinned and fallen short of Father's glory. Yet, My grace abounds. Come to Me, fall at My feet, confess, repent, and receive My grace. You do not need to carry shame. My grace covers You and My forgiveness washes you white as newly fallen snow.