Monday Mantle -"How do you see your circumstances?" 01/19/09

[Apostle Victor L. Rivera, Jr., PhD.]

This week's Monday Mantle:

On today's Monday Mantle, I want to ask you,"How do you see your circumstances?"

In these trying times on uncertainty it is very easy to fall into the trap of allowing our circumstances to consume every bit of our lives with the hopes of one day ending our trials and tests. The fact of the matter is, that if you finally do survive the storm or test, there is surely another one on its way.

You see just like nature we cannot control the storms that come, we can only respond to them. We decide whether to allow the storm to affect us or simply find shelter from the storm. Like the storm, we cannot explain its reasoning but we can identify its benefits for the earth's plant life, so does the storms that enter our lives grant us wisdom.

The key is to change your perception of circumstances. Many find it hard to do this because the truth deep down inside often tells us that we caused it. But if in fact you did cause the circumstance it is irrelevant, the mere changing of your perception of it will allow you to have a broader view and you will find a solution or victory much quicker.

Before I tell you how to change your perception of the circumstance, I want you to take some small steps first.

***Before you read on, I want to make this disclaimer; if your situation involves the lost of a loved one or a life threatening illness then the processes below are not fit as these events are life altering events that should be handled with the utmost spiritual and emotional delicacy.***


First Begin to look back at your previous circumstances, however large or small, every one that you can remember. Then ask yourself the following questions:

1. How did you get in it?

Identify the root source of the circumstance. If you caused the circumstance you must forgive yourself before moving on. I mean literally say, I forgive myself for... and then move on. Do not be hard on yourself .

If someone else caused the circumstance then move to the next question as we will get back to forgiveness later.

2. How did I get out?

Remember the steps you took whether planned or not, or how you just survived the storm by not quitting. Remember how your feelings changed once it was over, said and done. Remember who helped you and what they said that pushed you or comforted you.

After you have asked the last questions and realized the answers, then you should take a few seconds and reflect on the following truths:

It is not the End of the world! You are still alive!

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11

You must be great because you have overcome some stuff!

"For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world; and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith." 1 John 5:4

You are all the more wiser and your wisdom can help someone else!

"How can a young man keep his way pure? By living according to your word. I seek you with all my heart; do not let me stray from your commands. I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you."
Psalms 119:9-11

Circumstances are like storms, they come... but then they go!

"If God is for us, who can be against us."
Romans 8:31

You will not go through something that you cannot handle!

"No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted,he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it."
1 Corinthians 10:13

You are not alone!

"...I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee....The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me."
Hebrews 13:5,6

If you are in this circumstance because of another person, you must use all your strength to forgive that person. Holding a grudge or resentment against a person to hurt them or show them that they were wrong is the most false sense of revenge that you can ever have. The only person you hurt when you don't forgive is yourself. Forgiveness is for you. To give you release, to give you closure. No need for revenge. The law of sowing and reaping takes care of all that. What goes around comes around, and when it comes back around it comes multiplied. You need to focus on you and getting through this circumstance as quick as you can, and the first step is forgiveness. Just do it!

If you are in this circumstance and it seems all to familiar to you, then you are going through the same thing again maybe just a different place or different person. This is because you did not go through the whole process. Remember the process is deal with, persevere through and learn from. If you quit in the middle of the process and escape from your responsibility like unforgiveness, then you will most definately find yourself going through it all over again in another place in your life. Go back and learn from all your experiences and even from others and draw the wisdom from them so that you will never see those circumstances in your life again.

How can I change my perception of the circumstances?

Well after you allow yourself to feel the feelings, whether it issadness, anger, or fear etc., begin to reflect. Begin to look at thewhole circumstance, the whole picture.

1. Change your thoughts about them!

Circumstances are not here to stay. They are here to deal with, persevere through and learn from. Once that is accomplished they are gone!

Don't think of them as negative, though in nature it may seem, but try to find the most positive thing about its reason and hold fast to hoping for its reward once you've overcome.

2. Change your feelings about them!

Do not worry. Since you have the foreknowledge that you will get through this, then have faith. You have already been through situations that you have gotten out of, just begin to draw on the emotions of those victories to get the strength you need to hope.

Do not fear. Our fear comes because we do not know the future. We fear the unknown. The first thing you need to know is that in the end you will win. The question is just how? The second thing is that you know that God will turn what was meant for evil for your good. The third reason why you should not fear is because it is the opposite of faith. If fear occupies your heart than faith cannot grow. If fear comes because you don't know the future then try your best to find out all what the word of God has to say about your future and find people with testimonies of overcoming faith. Remember faith cometh by hearing..., let hope grow in your heart.

You should perceive every circumstance that comes as:

An opportunity to grow your faith and trust in the Lord.
An opportunity to have another overcoming testimony to share your faith.
An opportunity to become more wise and let your wisdom help another soul.
An opportunity to realize that you're still alive in this world!


Let not your heart be troubled by a few stones in the road, you are among the living. It is proof that you are alive and well and able to choose how you respond to what life gives you on your journey to live with purpose and fulfill your God-given Destiny. "...While there is still life there is still hope..."

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Rev Hope

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