My Worldview and Perspective Matters

“There is a way that seems right to a person, but eventually it ends in death.” Proverbs 14:12 (GW)

There are countless worldviews—beliefs I built my life on. Those beliefs come to me from books, media, classrooms, the people around me, music, advertising, and more. Most of the time, I don’t even think about my worldview. But I need to—because my worldview influences how I see myself and others, how I make decisions, and just about every other aspect of how I live.

Some of the worldviews that are popular in today’s culture are: 

Materialism. This worldview can be summarized with the word more—more, more, more. Materialism says that the only thing that really matters in life is the acquisition of things. Materialists confuse values with valuables. They think, “If I have more, I’m worth more.” 

Jesus loved to challenge conventional wisdom, including the idea of materialism. He once said, “One’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions” (Luke 12:15 ESV). In other words, I can’t judge my life by how much I’ve got because the greatest things in life aren’t actually things.

Individualism. We live in a serve-yourself world that says, “It’s all about you!” Advertising tells us things like, “Live your truth,” “Be your own hero,” and “You deserve it.” It’s a self-centered, individualistic, “me first” way of living.

But Jesus taught, “If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake, you will save it” (Matthew 16:25 NLT). Jesus says I only begin living my life when I start giving it away. Significance in life doesn’t come from individual status, salary, or success; it comes from serving God and serving others.

Hedonism. Hedonism urges, “Do whatever feels good!” Hedonism is simply the desire that says, “The most important thing in life is how I feel. If I feel good, then it’s good; if I feel bad, then it’s bad.” The hedonist lives for comfort, pleasure, fun, and good feelings.

“What’s wrong with pleasure?” After all, God is the one who created pleasure. But pleasure wasn’t made to be my ultimate goal. Instead, pleasure is a result of living the kind of life God wants me to live. The Message paraphrase says it like this: “You’re addicted to thrills? What an empty life! The pursuit of pleasure is never satisfied” (Proverbs 21:17).   

Pragmatism. “Whatever works for you”—that’s the theme of the pragmatist. Pragmatism says it doesn’t matter if it’s right or wrong; it doesn’t matter if it hurts someone; if it works for you, it’s fine.

But the Bible offers a different perspective: “There is a way that seems right to a person, but eventually it ends in death” (Proverbs 14:12 GW). Just because something seems to be working now doesn’t mean it’s right. Cheating on a spouse, stealing from your business, or relying on alcohol may all seem to work for you in the short-term, but eventually they’ll bring you down.

As I think about my own life. Am I caught up in some of these popular worldviews? Or am I choosing to follow the different path that Jesus offers?

In summary:

My worldview—the beliefs I live by—shape how I see myself, relate to others, and make decisions, yet much of it is influenced by cultural voices without me even realizing it. Popular worldviews like materialism, individualism, hedonism, and pragmatism may seem appealing, but each one focuses on self, possessions, pleasure, or short-term gain rather than God’s truth, and ultimately leads to emptiness or destruction, as Proverbs 14:12 warns. Jesus offers a different path, one that values people over possessions, service over self, purpose over pleasure, and truth over convenience. The question is whether I’m following the world’s way or choosing the life-giving way of Christ. 

Bottom Line:

Not everything that feels right or works in the moment leads to life—true purpose and direction come only from aligning my worldview with Jesus’ truth.

A Changed Life Starts with a Changed View

“Anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!” 2 Corinthians 5:17 (NLT)

Ideas have consequences. In fact, every idea has a consequence, for good or for bad. All of my ideas—the thoughts that settle in my mind—come together to make up my worldview, the beliefs I build my life on.

My worldview includes my beliefs about life, death, the past, the present, and the future. It includes my perspective on time, money, relationships, pain and suffering, and good and evil. It’s how I view God, myself, and other people. Everything I believe about life is part of my worldview. 

My worldview determines my choices. It can be explained like this: God wired my brain in such a way that before I make a decision, I instantly access all the information in my mind and ask, “What do I believe about this?” And then I make a choice—often without even realizing it—based on what I believe to be true. 

For example, I decide to walk across the street because I’ve looked both ways and believe I can make it across without a car hitting me. I make decisions like this literally tens of thousands of times a day. Every time I make a choice, I access my worldview.

We all spend our lives developing our worldviews, but when I begin a relationship with Christ, he offers me a new worldview. The Bible says, “Anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!” (2 Corinthians 5:17 NLT).

When I step across that line spiritually—turning from my sins and trusting in God’s grace—I get a new identity. God says everything I’ve ever done wrong is completely forgiven—wiped out and forgotten! His Word (Scripture/Bible) calls it being born again. I get a fresh start in life. I get a new identity. And with that new identity, God offers me a new way to look at the world. He offers me a new worldview.

But sometimes my mind keeps playing old tapes. I keep seeing myself and others the way the world taught me to, not the way God does. When that happens, I need to get my worldview in line with God’s truth. In other words, when my false beliefs—my faulty worldview—are making me miserable, I can change them.

In the coming days, I’ll look at what’s true and what’s not true. This will help me know how to get my life in line with God’s truth and have the kind of worldview that will allow me to live out God’s purposes every day.

In summary:

My worldview—the collection of beliefs I hold about life, people, and God—shapes every decision I make, often without me even realizing it. But when I begin a relationship with Christ, I am made new, and with that new identity comes a new way of seeing the world. According to 2 Corinthians 5:17, the old life is gone, and a new one begins. However, even after this transformation, it's easy to fall back into old thought patterns shaped by my past or culture. That’s why it’s essential to align my thinking with God’s truth, replacing false beliefs with the reality of who I am in Christ. By renewing my mind, I can live with clarity, purpose, and freedom in my new identity.

Bottom Line:

When I come to Christ, I receive a new identity and a new way of seeing the world—so I must continually renew my mind to align with God’s truth and live out His purpose for my life.

Give God Your Best and Live Your Calling

“Fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands. For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline.” 2 Timothy 1:6-7 (NIV)

When Timothy joined Paul on his missionary journey, Timothy was still a very young man. Paul sent him to a city called Ephesus to help start and lead a church. Even though Timothy struggled with fear, God used him.

Three lessons I can learn from Timothy about how to fulfill God’s calling in my life. 

Develop the gifts God gave me.
The Bible says, “Do not let anyone look down on you because you are young, but be an example for the believers in your speech, your conduct, your love, faith, and purity. . . . Do not neglect the spiritual gift that is in you. . . . Practice these things and devote yourself to them, in order that your progress may be seen by all” (1 Timothy 4:12, 14-15 GNT).

Paul also told Timothy to “fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands. For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline” (2 Timothy 1:6-7 NIV).

As a believer, I have a lifelong responsibility to develop the talents and gifts God has given me.

Refuse to be distracted.
Paul tells Timothy in 1 Timothy 4:16, “Keep a close watch on how you live and on your teaching. Stay true to what is right for the sake of your own salvation and the salvation of those who hear you” (NLT).

It’s easy to get sidetracked by a desire to build my business, family, career, or my bank account. And I often waste countless hours of my life on the internet and on my phone. As a follower of Jesus, I've got to keep the most important things in focus so I can fulfill my calling.

Give God my very best.
The Bible says, “Run your best in the race of faith, and win eternal life for yourself; for it was to this life that God called you” (1 Timothy 6:12 GNT). God has called me to a specific task, and it can only be accomplished when I give it the best of my time, effort, gifts, and focus.

Paul says about Timothy, “I have no one else like Timothy” (Philippians 2:20 NLT). Can you imagine a greater epitaph? There was no one else in the world like Timothy. He was focused. He was committed to the call of God on his life. Nobody could distract or discourage him, and he gave God his best.

As I give God my best and follow his calling, God will bring out the best in me as well. 

In summary:

Timothy’s story reminds me that fulfilling God’s calling requires intentional focus, courage, and commitment. Though young and timid, Timothy was called to lead and serve with boldness, and Paul urged him to develop his spiritual gifts, stay focused on what matters most, and give God his very best. Like Timothy, I’m responsible for growing the talents God has placed in me, refusing distractions that pull me away from my purpose, and pursuing my calling with excellence. God doesn’t give a spirit of fear, but one of power, love, and self-discipline—and when I live from that truth, God brings out the best in me.

Bottom Line:

To fulfill God’s calling, I must grow my gifts, stay focused on what matters most, and give God my very best—trusting that He has equipped me with power, love, and self-discipline to live it out.

Purpose Doesn’t Retire

“Now here I am, eighty-five years old. I am still as strong today as I was the day Moses sent me out, and I am just as ready to fight now as I was then. So give me the mountain country the LORD promised me that day long ago.” Joshua 14:10-12 (NCV)

It’s never too late to follow God’s calling on your life.

After Moses sent 12 spies into the Promised Land, they returned and reported that the land was too hard a place for God’s people to settle. And because of their unbelief, the Israelites wandered around in the desert for another 40 years. An entire generation died because they did not believe in God’s promises. But Caleb and Joshua believed, so they got to live. 

When the Israelites returned to the Promised Land 40 years later, Caleb said, “Now here I am, eighty-five years old. I am still as strong today as I was the day Moses sent me out, and I am just as ready to fight now as I was then. So give me the mountain country the LORD promised me that day long ago” (Joshua 14:10-12 NCV).

“Give me the mountain country”—I love that! The land Caleb wanted was full of giants and cities fortified with great walls. He was essentially saying to God, “Give me the biggest assignment. Give me the hardest city. Give me the place with the biggest giants. Give me the mountain regions. I don’t want some easy place. I know I’m 85 years old, but I’ve still got it in me to do great things for you.”

In the greeting card section of a store, they have an entire section that offers birthday cards for the 80th, 85th, 90th, 95th, and even 100th birthdays! Growing up, I don't remember seeing those kinds of cards, because most people didn’t live that long. But now, life expectancy is much higher.

As an older adult, many may think it’s time to hang it up. But what I'm learning is that it’s time to get it down and dust it off! Do I think God is going to let me live 30 more years just to play golf?

Here’s a word that’s not in the Bible: retirement. While I may stop working I will keep serving the Lord. I have more wisdom and experience now than when I was younger, and God is not going to waste that.

At the age of 85, Caleb began the greatest mission of his life. Moses was 80 when God called him to set God’s people free. Abraham was 79 when he received God’s call.

With me getting closer to the the Caleb generation, I'm finding that it’s never too late to start on my life calling. The best is yet to come!

In summary:

Caleb’s story in Joshua 14:10–12 is a powerful reminder that it’s never too late to step into God’s calling. At 85 years old, he boldly declared he was just as strong and ready as ever to take on the most difficult challenges—the mountain country filled with giants—because he believed in God’s promise. While others gave up or settled, Caleb pressed forward with faith, proving that age is not a barrier to purpose. Like Caleb, I’m realizing that growing older doesn’t mean slowing down spiritually—it means stepping into greater wisdom, strength, and impact. Retirement from a job may come, but there’s no retirement from serving God. The best is not behind me—it’s ahead.

Bottom Line:

It’s never too late to pursue God’s calling—no matter your age, your strength and purpose are still alive when your faith is strong.

Courage Over Comfort: Trusting God’s Path

“Why is the LORD taking us to this country only to have us die in battle? Our wives and our little ones will be carried off as plunder! Wouldn’t it be better for us to return to Egypt?” Numbers 14:3 (NLT)

Any time I get serious about using my life the way God wants me to use it, some people will oppose me. Satan will throw everything he can at me to keep you from fulfilling my calling. 

One reason why so few people actually fulfill God’s calling is because they are unwilling to go against popular opinion. If I want to follow God’s calling on my life, I must be willing to reject negative advice—no matter who it comes from.

The Bible says in Numbers 14:2-3, “Their voices rose in a great chorus of protest against Moses and Aaron. ‘If only we had died in Egypt, or even here in the wilderness!’ they complained. ‘Why is the LORD taking us to this country only to have us die in battle? Our wives and our little ones will be carried off as plunder! Wouldn’t it be better for us to return to Egypt?’” (NLT).

When faced with difficult circumstances, the Israelites decided they preferred captivity in Egypt to freedom in the Promised Land. Rather than doing what God had called them to do, they wanted to go back to their old way of life.

But one of their leaders, Caleb, had uncommon courage. He decided he was going to face their challenges with God’s help, even if he was scared. He was willing to reject negative advice to follow God’s calling.

In fact, Caleb didn’t just receive negative advice; he was also physically threatened. Numbers 14:10 says, “The whole community began to talk about stoning Joshua and Caleb. Then the glorious presence of the LORD appeared to all the Israelites at the Tabernacle” (NLT).

God’s presence saved Caleb and Joshua. This will happen in my life too.

When I go after God’s calling for my life, I’ll always come across naysayers. So make the decision now to reject negative advice. And count on God’s presence to see you through.

In summary:

When I commit to living out God’s calling for my life, I will face opposition—sometimes even from those closest to me. Like the Israelites in Numbers 14:3, fear and discomfort can tempt me to retreat to familiar but limiting places, rather than trusting God’s promise. Many people miss their calling because they’re unwilling to go against popular opinion or reject negative advice. Caleb stands as an example of uncommon courage—choosing to move forward with faith, even in the face of fear and threats. His trust in God’s presence gave him strength, and the same is true for me: if I stay faithful and reject discouragement, God’s presence will guide and protect me as I walk in my purpose.

Bottom Line:

To fulfill God’s calling, I must reject fear and negative voices, stand with courage, and trust that God’s presence will lead and protect me—even when the path is unpopular or difficult.

Overcoming Discouragement: Rebuilding with Rest, Resolve, and Faith

“Then the people of Judah said, ‘The work crews are worn out, and there is too much rubble. We can’t continue to rebuild the wall.’” Nehemiah 4:10 (GW)

Discouragement is curable. When I get discouraged, I need to head straight to the book of Nehemiah. This great leader of ancient Israel understood there were four reasons for discouragement.

First, I get fatigued. I simply get tired as the laborers did in Nehemiah 4:10: “Then the people of Judah said, ‘The work crews are worn out, and there is too much rubble. We can’t continue to rebuild the wall’” (GW).

Human beings wear out. I can’t burn the candle at both ends. If I'm discouraged, I may not really need to change anything major in my life. I may just need rest! Sometimes the most spiritual thing I can do is take a nap.

Second, I get frustrated. Nehemiah says there was rubble all around, so much so that it was getting in the way of rebuilding the wall. I have “rubble” in my life. Anytime I start doing something new, the rubble (the frustrations that keep me from working toward my goal) starts piling up?

If I don’t clean it out periodically, it will stop my progress. I can’t avoid it, so I need to learn to recognize it and dispose of it quickly so that I don’t lose focus on my goals. 

Third, I think I've failed. Nehemiah’s people were unable to finish their task as quickly as originally planned, and, as a result, their confidence collapsed. They likely thought, “We were stupid to think we could ever rebuild this wall.”

So when I don’t reach a goal on time, I should just set a new goal and don’t give up. Everybody fails; everybody does foolish things.

The issue is not that I failed; it’s how I respond to my failure.

Don't give in to self-pity? Don't start blaming others? Don't start complaining that it’s impossible? Do refocus on God’s intentions and start moving again?

Finally, I give in to fear. Giving in to fear leads to discouragement. Nehemiah 4 suggests that the people most affected by fear are those who hang around negative people. One way to control the negative thoughts in life is to spend less time around negativity.

I may get so discouraged by my fear that I say, “I can’t handle this. It’s too much responsibility.” Maybe it’s the fear of criticism. Or you think you don’t deserve to succeed. But fear will destroy your life if you let it. Instead, you can choose to resist discouragement by saying, “God, help me get my eyes off the problem and the circumstances and keep my eyes on you.”

I don’t have to stay stuck in my discouragement. Ask God to help me figure out the reason for it, address it, and start moving forward in confidence.

In summary:

Discouragement, as illustrated in Nehemiah 4:10, is a common but curable struggle, and Nehemiah identifies four key causes: fatigue, frustration, failure, and fear. Just like the worn-out workers surrounded by rubble, we too can become tired and overwhelmed by life's clutter, making it hard to stay focused. Feelings of failure arise when progress stalls, but setbacks don’t define us—our response does. Fear, especially when fueled by negativity, can paralyze us, convincing us we’re not enough or can’t handle what’s ahead. Yet, by identifying the root cause of our discouragement, seeking God’s guidance, taking practical steps like rest, and shifting our focus from the problem to God’s purpose, we can regain clarity, courage, and momentum.

Bottom Line:

Discouragement is temporary and often rooted in fatigue, frustration, failure, or fear—but with rest, renewed focus, and trust in God, I can overcome it and keep moving forward.

Delayed, Not Denied: Trusting God’s Perfect Timing

“You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised. For, ‘In just a little while, he who is coming will come and will not delay.’” Hebrews 10:36-37 (NIV)

If I'm discouraged because of God’s delay in answering my prayers, understand the delay is not a denial. Just because the answer or the miracle hasn’t come yet doesn’t mean God isn’t going to answer—or that he’s forgotten me or doesn’t care about me. It simply means “not yet”!

Part of becoming spiritually mature is learning the difference between “no” and “not yet,” between a denial and a delay. The Bible tells us, “He who is coming will come and will not delay” (Hebrews 10:37 NIV).

God’s delay may be a test of my patience. Anybody can be patient once. And most people can be patient twice—or even three times. God will test my patience over and over.

Does he do this to see how patient you are? No, he does it so I can see how patient I am. His testing helps me see God’s power at work in me and examines my level of commitment to him.

God tests me also so that I can know he is faithful, even if the answers I seek are delayed.

I may go through difficult times. I may be discouraged because the situation I face seems unmanageable, unreasonable, or unfair.

It may seem unbearable, and inside I'm basically saying, “God, I can’t take it anymore. I just can’t take it anymore!”

But I can. I can stay with it longer because God is with me. He’ll equip me to press on.

Remember, I'm never a failure until I quit. Resist discouragement and finish the race God has set before me.

In summary:

When God delays in answering prayers, it’s not a denial—it’s a test of faith and patience. Learning to distinguish between “no” and “not yet” is part of spiritual growth. Though discouragement may come during difficult or seemingly unfair times, God remains faithful, and His timing is perfect. These delays help reveal my endurance and dependence on Him. I’m not alone; God equips me to keep going. I only fail if I quit—so I must persevere and trust that His promises will be fulfilled in due time.

Bottom line:

God’s delays are not denials—stay patient, trust His timing, and don’t give up, because He is faithful and will fulfill His promises.