What is a Kingdom perspective? Simply put: Kingdom perspective is God’s perspective. It’s viewing life through His lens, not our own. It is the bigger picture.
It’s keeping the Kingdom in mind in all we do. It is greater than our own little kingdoms we create on this earth within our families, churches, friend groups, communities, schools, and overall lives. When Jesus taught the disciples to pray in Matthew 6:10, He said to pray for “thy Kingdom come, thy Will be done on earth as it is in Heaven.” It’s remembering that we’re helping build His Kingdom, the Kingdom. The purpose is for Him to use us as His vessels within our earthly kingdoms for the ultimate goal and glory of His Heavenly Kingdom.
Photo Credit: © Pexels/Iain
What Happens When our Earthly Kingdom Is Shaken?
What do we do when an invisible yet deadly enemy by the name of the Coronavirus enters our earthly world and shakes up what we used to call our normal?
The Kingdom perspective is eternal; our earthly kingdoms are temporary. God’s plan does not change and is not shaken with the whims and disturbances of the world. Matthew 24:35 says “Heaven and earth will pass away, but the Word of the Lord remains forever.”
The truth is: everything in this world can be shaken, and in fact, will be shaken. If we are so tied to these temporary kingdoms, we too will fall. In Christ, we have received an eternal Kingdom that cannot be shaken, that will stand forever. In a very practical sense, if you’re focused on His Kingdom and His will, would you and I really have any time to focus on worrying about our earthly kingdom being shaken? Probably not! Thinking with a Kingdom perspective in all we do helps stand firm when our world turns upside down.
Photo Credit: © Unsplash/Boban Simonovski
As Believers, Now Is the Time to Let Our Light Shine
To live with a Kingdom perspective is to remember the words of Paul when he encourages us to not set our mind on earthly things “for our citizenship is in heaven” (Philippians 3:20), and that our “bodies are merely tents here on earth… and temporary” (1 Corinthians 5:1). Paul taught these principles in prison and made an everlasting impact shining his light during a dark time. We too should teach others during what feels like a prison for us right now for us.
God is in the process of recruiting warriors who are willing to stand with Him to see the bigger picture. With the world being ever-changing, it can leave us feeling powerless. But sisters—we are oh so powerful in Christ! Part of our jobs as believers is to “share the good news of the Gospel” (Mark 16:15). Now is a time to not look at life with despair, but rather look at it as an opportunity to share with the world the work of the Lord. Let’s stand in the gap like never before, sharing God with the broken world.
With our church’s doors being physically closed during this pandemic, let’s rise up and be the church. In our interactions at the grocery stores, gas stations, and pharmacies. Through our social media and online platforms. Through our conversations with our co-workers, neighbors, family, or unbelieving friends. It’s time we shine our light with a Kingdom perspective in a world covered in darkness.
Photo Credit: © Unsplash/Anton Darius
10 Ways to Live with a Kingdom Perspective
1. Fill up with God First, Not the World
Let’s start each day surrendering our pride, opinions, and beliefs by laying them down at the foot of the cross. By emptying ourselves each day, it allows the Lord to fill us up with His purpose, His Kingdom perspective. Matthew 6:33 says to “seek first the kingdom of God.”
2. Don’t Let the Enemy Distract You
Chaos is the devil’s friend. Our enemy is in the business of distracting us in order to keep our focus off the Kingdom of God and onto the worldly kingdom around us. Remember, the enemy’s goal each day is to come “only to steal, kill, and destroy” (John 10:10).
Photo Credit: © Getty Images/buradaki
3. Let God Do His Job While You Do Yours
We naturally want to control things, but the outcome of what is going on in our world is truly out of our control. Let God do His job and handle tomorrow, while you ask God what your job for Him is today. “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding” (Proverbs 3:5).
4. Arm Yourself with the Armor of God
Our world is facing a battle we have never faced before. It’s important for us to guard ourselves in the full armor of God during this time with the “helmet of salvation, the breastplate of righteousness, the belt of truth, the sword of the Spirit (which is the word of God), the shield of faith, and the shoes of the Gospel of peace, praying always” (Ephesians 6:10-18). To live with a Kingdom perspective, you must remind yourself of the battle we are fighting in the “heavenly places” (Ephesians 6:12), and take your position, armed and alert, as a soldier for Christ.
Photo Credit: © Unsplash
5. Focus on Jesus Not the Wind
Matthew 14 discusses the story of when Jesus called Peter to walk on water towards Him during a storm. Verse 30 says when Peter had come down out of the boat, and started to walk towards Jesus on water, that “he saw that the wind was boisterous, he was afraid, and began to sink.” At what point did Peter get afraid? When he took his eyes off Jesus and onto the wind. He began sinking the moment he looked elsewhere. To live with a Kingdom perspective, we must keep our focus always on Jesus.
6. Be a Faith Warrior, Not a Worrier
All this worrying about what ‘could’ happen with this pandemic causes us to draw away from God and His faithfulness. Jesus teaches a parable about worrying in Matthew 6:27 and asks, “Can all your worries add a single moment to your life?” The answer is no. Worrying does not change anything. It certainly does not change our current situation nor change the outcome. To live with a Kingdom perspective is to have faith that He is in control and taking care of everything, even when our eyes cannot see it.
Photo Credit: © Pexels/Johannes Pleni
7. Remember Who God Is
Having a Kingdom perspective is found in WHO you are believing in. Are you believing in the news, or our government, or a cure right now? Or are you believing in the Maker of it all and standing on the promise of who He is? Remember, God never changes, even though the world arounds us does. He is faithful (2 Thessalonians 3:3). He is steadfast (Psalm 25:10). He is trustworthy (Psalm 33:4). He is our shield (Psalm 18:31). He won’t leave you, nor forsake you (Deuteronomy 31:6). Nothing can separate us, especially during this time, from the love of God (Romans 8:35).
8. Think on Things Above
Colossians 3:2 teaches us to “set our minds on things above, not on things on the earth.” To live with a Kingdom perspective, we need to be aware of what we are focusing our mind on. Are you constantly checking every update on the pandemic, focusing all your attention on the circumstances of this world?
Take inventory of your mind and what you are feeding it each day. If you are feeling anxious or fearful, it could be from the thoughts you are feeding your mind. This is why Paul teaches us to “think about whatever is true, noble, pure, lovely, are of good report, or if there is any virtue or anything praiseworthy --- to meditate on these things” (Philippians 4:8).
Photo Credit: © Getty Images/halfpoint
9. Drink from the Well of God, Not the World
It can feel during this time that our lives have been taken from us. What we know as our normal source of life has been completely removed. Our jobs, our social interactions, our travel plans, our churches, our gyms, our places of comfort.
To live with a Kingdom perspective, it’s important to drink from the life-giving well. In John 4, Jesus meets the Samaritan women at the well who went from husband to husband seeking fulfillment from the world, and yet continued to thirst for more. Jesus taught her that “whoever drinks of this water will thirst again, but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst” (Verse 14). To live with a Kingdom perspective is to draw from the well of God as He is the only source that will leave you satisfied.
10. Finding Happiness in Whatever Happens
We must believe that in every “happening,” that God promises He “will work everything out for your good”(Romans 8:28). This verse does not affirm that all things are good, just as this pandemic we are all experiencing certainly isn’t good. Rather, this promise says that God will overrule the work even through the tragedies in the world to still accomplish His purpose. To live with a Kingdom perspective is to know that somehow, someway, God will work this world pandemic out for good, and for the glory of Him.
Trust the Next Chapter Because We Know the Author
We don’t know what’s next nor how this will all turn out as things are changing day to day. But what we do know is the Author Himself. He knows the beginning from the end. This time of despair with the world pandemic is just a chapter in the grand story. So, let’s think just as Christ thinks, viewing all that happens from a Kingdom perspective. Remembering He’s trustworthy, never-changing, life-fulfilling, and He’s got everything under control. It’s time we partner with Him as believers by holding our lights high to help accomplish His heavenly purpose.
Alisha Headley is a writer + speaker who has a desire to meet the everyday woman in her everyday life with biblical truth. Stepping into her true calling, she left the corporate world behind as a former-financial VP to love on her family as a stay-at-home wifey + dog mama, while also being able to pursue her passion as a writer. Healing from a chapter of life consumed with lies she once believed about herself, she is inspired to point women to Christ to experience the freedom + power to overcome those lies with the truth written in God’s word. In her free time, Alisha enjoys road trips around the country, working out so she can eat her favorite foods, and creatively styling her outfits with a craft for fashion.
You can follow her blog by visiting her website or connect with her on facebook + instagram.
Photo Credit: © Unsplash/Alexander Milo
Originally published Friday, 03 April 2020.
