1. How you see people

Mark 8:24 And he looked up and said, “I see men, but they look like trees, walking.” (ESV)

To take away our deep-seated prejudices, biases, judgments and stereotypes so that we can see every man clearly.

2 Corinthians 5:16, 17 From now on, therefore, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we once regarded Christ according to the flesh, we regard him thus no longer. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. (ESV)

2. How you see problems

Zechariah 4:10  For who has desisted the days of small things? (ASV)

To be able to see those blessings that usually come in disguise…either by trial or tribulation.

James 1:2 Count it all joy my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds. (ESV)

3. How you see God’s will vs your will

1 Thess. 3:3 For this is the will of God… (ESV)

To be able to discover the perfect will of God concerning you in every situation. Is she/he the right one to get married to? Is this the right career move? Am I called to ministry? What is my life’s purpose?

Romans 12:2 …that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.(ESV)

4. How you see money, wealth, possessions

Matthew 13:22 As for what was sown among thorns, this is the one who hears the word, but the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and it proves unfruitful.

To reject the deceitfulness of riches and embrace total surrender and dependency on God. 

I counsel you to buy from me gold refined by fire, so that you may be rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself and the shame of your nakedness may not be seen, and salve to anoint your eyes, so that you may see… For you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing, not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked. Revelation 3:17, 18

5. How you see eternity in the face of suffering

1 Corinthians 13:12 For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known. (ESV)

To be sure that our momentary afflictions do not compare to the glories to come.

2 Corinthians 4:^16-18So we’re not giving up. How could we! Even though on the outside it often looks like things are falling apart on us, on the inside, where God is making new life, not a day goes by without his unfolding grace. These hard times are small potatoes compared to the coming good times, the lavish celebration prepared for us. There’s far more here than meets the eye. The things we see now are here today, gone tomorrow. But the things we can’t see now will last forever. (the Message)

6. How you see yourself

Psalm 139:14 I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well.

To know for sure that you are not a mistake, you are not damaged goods, that you are beautiful, special, confident, having a balanced esteem of yourself.

Psalm 139:13-16 For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well. My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them.

Conclusion:

Let Jesus be the lens through which you see yourself, others, your trials and tribulations, this suffering and dying world – because than and only than, will you be able to gain the right perspective.