why it's helpful to have a proper perspective {day 20

If I had to name a single theme that has dominated my life in the past decade and a half, or a lesson that keeps coming to the surface, it would be this:

That this life and everything in it are temporary. The only things that last are God, His Word, and heaven.

The Lord has reminded me of these truths time and time again, through countless circumstances and experiences.

Being a renter and never a homeowner is one such circumstance. Moving ten times in the same city, and making two transatlantic moves have also cemented these realities into the forefront of my mind.

Remembering that this life is not all there is can be so encouraging. It also puts things into a proper perspective, and helps me to relax when I’m tempted to get worked up about a small, insignificant thing.

When material items break, I’m disappointed, but I try to remember that I’m not taking them with me to heaven anyway — so I really shouldn’t stress.

Having the mindset that this life is temporary also challenges me to make relationships count. To make each encounter, each exchange matter. Souls are eternal — bodies are not.

How can we increase our appetite for this promised “inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade”?

This is Day 20 of 31 Days of Five Minute Free Writes — a series in which every post has been written in five minutes flat. For more posts like this, click here.

Barbara Robbins on October 20, 2015 at 10:53 am

Having an eternal focus is the only thing that has helped me keep going through some of the hard places in my life. Being reminded that the chronic pain and many chronic illnesses I live with daily are temporary, and that my focus needs to be on building up treasures in heaven are the main things that keep me moving forward with a good attitude. Thanks for sharing this Kate.
Jasmine on October 20, 2015 at 7:20 pm

thanks for this, beautiful..
lisa on October 20, 2015 at 9:15 pm

Such a great reminder and great verses!