Putting Things In Perspective
King David was having a problem with his mouth and his anger. Read what happened.
Psalm 39:3-6: I said, “I will guard my ways that I may not sin with my tongue; I will keep a muzzle on my mouth as long as the wicked are in my presence.” I was silent and still; I held my peace to no avail; my distress grew worse, my heart became hot within me. While I mused, the fire burned; then I spoke with my tongue: “Lord, let me know my end, and what is the measure of my days; let me know how fleeting my life is. You have made my days a few handbreadths, and my lifetime is as nothing in your sight. Surely everyone stands as a mere breath. Surely everyone goes about like a shadow. Surely for nothing they are in turmoil; they heap up, and do not know who will gather. (NRSV)
David was practicing good psychology here. He was trying to think before he spoke. But he found that even though he stayed silent and still, his temper continued to boil. Holding in anger just added fuel to his already hot fire, and left him in an explosive state!
What David really needed was a change of heart, and he knew it. So he prayed. He asked God to help him know his end.
David wanted God to impress on him how fleeting his life was. He knew that would help him keep his problems and struggles in proper perspective.
From David’s words it’s clear that a change of heart comes from a change of mind. I think David was right. When I step back and look at life as it really is, as a passing
breath across the backdrop of eternity, then my momentary frustrations seem almost insignificant. When I focus more on who God is, and who I am in relation to God, everything else starts coming into perspective.
Maybe if we all stayed focused on the work God is doing in us and in our world, then anger’s burning flame would begin to dim. Our daily troubles would seem more like passing breezes. Those breezes might frustrate and annoy us, but they would not necessarily knock us off course, blind our vision or stop our progress.
So next time you get angry, don’t bother trying to hold it in. Drop down on your knees, and ask God to help you put things into perspective.
With your eyes on the Lord, problems will start looking more like opportunities, and anger will begin giving way to enthusiastic obedience!
WORDS-4-LIFE 
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