1 John 4:4-6 “You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world. They are of the world. Therefore they speak as of the world, and the world hears them. We are of God. He who knows God hears us; he who is not of God does not hear us. By this we know the spirit of truth and the spirit of error.”
A paradigm is a standard, perspective, or set of ideas. The way you look at a situation or how you think of others might be reflective of your paradigm. If you change paradigms, you change how you think about something. Once a paradigm (or model) is established or accepted, an interesting thing happens, it shapes how you interpret facts.
What causes a shift in your paradigm?
Psalm 39:4 “O LORD, make me know my end and what is the measure of my days; let me know how fleeting I am!”
The way a person sees the world is determined by their perspective. If a person lived in the remote jungles of the Amazon basin they would view the world differently from someone who lived in New York City. If you listen to conservative talk radio, your perspective will probably be different than if you listened to a consistently liberal perspective. If you constantly bombard your ears with secular music, you will hear a different message than if you listened to christian music. For those who lived in the 2nd century during the time of Claudius Ptolemaeus, they may have thought the earth was the center of the solar system while those who lived around the 16th century, they might have followed Copernicus and believed the sun was the center of the solar system.
A person’s culture or influence can vary greatly depending on who they choose to listen to, ad so their paradigm often reflects their perspective.
A Spiritual Shift
King David prayed for a shift in his paradigm and so he prayed according to what he knew was true.
Psalm 119:18 “Open my eyes, that I may see wondrous things from Your law.”
Isaiah prophesied of the coming day of the Lord when Jesus would change the worlds perspective regarding truth.
Isaiah 29:18 “On that day the deaf will hear the words of the scroll, and out of the deep darkness the eyes of the blind will see.”
Over 700+ years after the time of Isaiah, Jesus fulfilled the many prophecies concerning the Messiah.
Matthew 11:5 “The blind receive sight, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is preached to the poor.”
When a person believes and follows Jesus as Lord and Savior, the Holy Spirit does a miraculous work in their life—He changes their paradigm! He takes a person from having a worldview that walked in spiritual darkness and transforms them by His light. A greater understanding is imparted as a person grows in the knowledge of God’s character and love.
The Word of God is a demonstration of God’s character as revealed throughout history. The revelation of God brings an understanding that wasn’t present in people separated by sin.
Psalm 19:7-8 “The Law of the LORD is perfect, reviving the soul; the testimony of the LORD is trustworthy, making wise the simple. The precepts of the LORD are right, bringing joy to the heart the commandments of the LORD are radiant, giving light to the eyes.”
The perfection of God displaces the imperfection of sin. The Lord brings depth of insight into life that reveals purpose and intent.
Godly Thinking
To have the mind of Christ requires being unified in His purpose and love. The more a believer submits in obedience, the more they see how God wants them to see—from His perspective.
Psalm 146:8 “the LORD opens the eyes of the blind. The LORD lifts up those who are bowed down; the LORD loves the righteous.”
Jesus often looked past the obvious and peered into the heart of people. Whether it was the woman at the well in Samaria or the prostitute thrown at His feet, He wouldn’t be overcome by the cultural expectations that mankind tried to relegate unto Him. Jesus recognized the value in people regardless of their failures. He would not discriminate according to someone’s character flaws or past mistakes, He would simply tell them to go and sin no more.
Walking in spiritual insight as Jesus did is a possibility for all who have been filled with His Spirit.
*The Bible makes it clear that a shift in perspective must first take place for a new spiritual realization to occur. If people can’t see themselves in light of their sin, they will never understand the necessity of submitting to God’s authority in their lives.
*If a person can’t recognize what it takes to make a commitment to Christ, then how can they know the life they are missing? The gospel makes the proud humble with the hope that obedience and trusting in Christ will be the response. Self-righteousness is of the world leading many into a hard headed determination to try and justify themselves.
*When a person comes to Christ, He fills them with His Spirit and seals them for salvation. The sanctifying work of God leads people in healing and transforms their view of life.
God’s Leading
The more a believer learns to trust, the greater the knowledge and understanding of God they gain. The Lord is not singular in how He works, consider the multitude of ways He has manifest His presence, declared His name, and revealed His glory. It would take a lifetime and beyond to fully appreciate the magnitude and reach of God’s hand in His people’s lives.
A shift in thinking can bring wisdom if it is directed by God’s hand. The way God’s people see themselves and their circumstances in light of His grace can be life altering in how they live. Prayer takes on a completely different perspective, loving others has greater meaning and purpose, showing kindness, walking in peace, and learning to trust all look different when the Lord is doing the leading.
Psalm 19:14 “May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in Your sight, O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer.”
Life takes on a completely different perspective when it is filtered through the light God’s purposes, walk in it and you’ll see the world from a heavenly perspective.
Fear dissipates, joy becomes abundant, and the life of a believer takes on new meaning when their paradigm reflects God’s glory.
U.T. 