I firmly believe that perspective is everything and that God’s perspective is the best! That’s what I want, as much as I can get it in this lifetime. I want His perspective of both myself and Himself. When I capture this perspective, life seems utterly simple, pleasant, peaceful, and free.

There’s a secret technique I’ve been practicing that helps me get to that transcendent place I’m referring to here. Paul wrote about it.

We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ.
- 2 Corinthians 10:5

Here’s the Message Translation for amplification’s sake:

We use our powerful God-tools for smashing warped philosophies, tearing down barriers erected against the truth of God, fitting every loose thought and emotion and impulse into the structure of life shaped by Christ.
- 2 Corinthians 10:5 [Message]

In my daily walk, this is a fantastic technique to snap me out getting weighed down by life. It’s the method I use to take temptations and send them packing. It’s like a spiritual pooper scooper - LOL! Whenever something stinky enters my mind, I immediately say, “Take that thought captive to Christ!” I do this, recognizing it for what it is – an attempt from one of my enemies (world, flesh, Satan) to ruin the peace Christ has given me to enjoy (John 14:27) – and I’m delivered. It’s awesome!

I’m so grateful to God for equipping me with the power to resist temptation meant to bring me down.

But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him. God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.”
- John 4:23-24

God wants you to worship Him all day, every day, as a way of life. The more you understand His Truth, the more grateful you are. The more grateful you are, the more you desire to worship Him. This is what it means to walk by the Spirit – essentially, it means to live a life of worship, which begins with a life of gratitude.

But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh [rather, you will “take every thought captive to obey Christ” – 2 Corinthians 10:5].
- Galatians 5:16

Walking by the Spirit means walking in God’s Truth. It means deflecting temptations to abandon said Truth as they arrive. It means being forever motivated by a sense of gratitude for His grace. It’s amazing!

And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body.

And be thankful.

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs,

with thankfulness in your hearts to God.

And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus,

giving thanks to God the Father through him.
- Colossians 3:15-17

Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
- 1 Thessalonians 5:18

An attitude of gratitude is a way of life, not just a once in a while strategy that you rely on when times get bad. It’s an I’m-going-to-take-every-thought-captive-to-Christ attitude. It sets you free to enjoy your life.

This is the day that the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.
- Psalm 118:24

Every day is a good day for the one who lives in gratitude towards God.

Oh give thanks to the LORD, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever!
- Psalm 107:1

Every day is a new day to worship God in spirit and truth.

But be filled with the Spirit, addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart, giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ.
- Ephesians 5:18b-21

When you live a life of gratitude, life becomes like a song. It’s contagious, too! You sing your way through it, in good times and bad, because you never lose sight of God’s grace. To you, nothing else matters but to worship God, bringing glory to Him in the process! That’s a very powerful place to be in this world, my friend. And that’s precisely where our loving Father in Heaven wants us – in His saving arms.

The one who offers thanksgiving as his sacrifice glorifies me; to one who orders his way rightly I will show the salvation of God!”
- Psalm 50:23

Love in Christ,

Ed Collins