The Distinct Appointment when Perspective brings Courage | Northlands Church

The Distinct Appointment when Perspective brings Courage

July 18, 2017 | Kristine Wendt

The Distinct Appointment when Perspective brings Courage

by: Kristine Wendt

Yet, there are times where understanding eludes us, and peace evades us, but perspective keeps us alight to the journey before us. Here, courage is called upon.

Isaiah 55:8-9 (NIV) “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.” Isaiah 55:8-9, Deuteronomy 34:1-4

Along our journey to grow in perspective, new, varied or sharpened, we have brought forth a discussion on how peace of mind and soundness of spirit, can negate the need for courage.
Yet, there are times where understanding eludes us, and peace evades us, but perspective keeps us alight to the journey before us. Here, courage is called upon. Courage is the desire of our hearts when we feel a gap of peace, compared to what we believe and perceive. When there is perspective and humility, obedience or yieldedness, loyalty and faithfulness in spite of a deficit of peace, there courage is warranted. When I have (little or) no peace, but I have perspective, I find the requirement for courage. When I know that my understanding isn’t full, but my perspective is that He does know it all, I will follow courageously. This would be in any circumstance, diagnoses, change, and season.
One such aspect of a story captivates attention for the crux of this very moment, perhaps as a different analysis of a familiar moment. The Israelites were over the wilderness wandering and ready to rest. They demonstrated their weariness toward Moses, their leader. Moses accepted a temptation to less-than-self-control, and disobeyed the word of the Lord. The consequence was grave: no admittance into the Land flowing with Milk and Honey. Moses gets inhibited his entrance into the Promised Land due to disobedience. We read about his delegation of authority toward Joshua and the blessing imparted.
At the beginning of Deuteronomy 34, after Moses commissions the Israelites and tribes speaks favor over Joshua we read of one of Moses’ final encounters.
“Then Moses climbed Mount Nebo from the plains of Moab to the top of Pisgah, across from Jericho. There the Lord showed him the whole land—from Gilead to Dan, 2 all of Naphtali, the territory of Ephraim and Manasseh, all the land of Judah as far as the Mediterranean Sea, 3 the Negev and the whole region from the Valley of Jericho, the City of Palms, as far as Zoar. 4 Then the Lord said to him, “This is the land I promised on oath to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob when I said, ‘I will give it to your descendants.’ I have let you see it with your eyes, but you will not cross over into it.” Deuteronomy 34:1-4 (NIV)
This moment provokes courage. Moses, a friend of God, with frequent face-to-face life with God Himself, willingly follows instructions, climbs up the mountain (knowing what he will see). Courage is not measured here in volume, but in presence. As is true for you and I when we bring woundedness, or allow momentary disconnection, with a person we adore, the first moment of eye contact can feel as if to be a shaky one. Moses climbs. Moses sees from Mount Nebo. And then, Moses talks with God and God talks with Moses.
Moses had moxie. He was authentic before God at the time of His call, entirely doubting God’s idea was a good one (See Exodus 3). Moses was faithful to follow during times of war with arms held high and during an epic evacuation. Moses endured some wilderness. All with the hope of the grandeur of Promise, and yet he fell short of that passport stamp. But be not confounded: Moses met with the Person of Promise whilst viewing the Land of Promise. Moses yielded himself to understanding, walked in the appointment of perspective and courage led him onward.

Prayer

Abba Father, thank you that you see in perspective and share your Promise with me. I ask that you continue to reveal to me and awaken in me the fortitude of courage when I trust your perspective even if I don’t understand. I ask that you help me walk in enlightenment to your ways, that I may think thoughts and see all sights as you do.
Amen.

© 2024 Northlands Church and Kristine Wendt. Permission to share so long as credit is given.