It tells us several times in scripture to consider…
James says, “CONSIDER it pure joy, KNOWING that…” Other translations say, ‘count it as…’ Considering something is the process we go through as we evaluate something and decide whether is it good or bad, how we are going to respond, and how to feel about our situation. Considering is a process where we decide to file something in the negative filing cabinet or the positive filing cabinet of our minds. The outcome of this process determines whether the thing we encounter will harm or hinder us, or whether it will help us and make us stronger.
Some CONSIDER certain things to be opportunities while others consider the same things to be hindrances. One person will thrive under pressure, while another person will be broken by the same pressure. One will become a billionaire entrepreneur and help many others and another will become a homeless, helpless, broken person. It all comes down to how we consider things to be.
It starts by Who we consider God to be, Who we consider Jesus to be, and who we consider ourselves to be. When a believer considers God good, loving, powerful and full of grace and mercy, and when that believer considers God to be for him, then every situation he or she faces will be different from the individual who considers God to be an angry, legalistic, judgmental God.
The individual who considers themselves righteous in Christ, loved, a person of great ability and a person who can do all things in Christ will face totally different outcomes in life than those who consider themselves of no value and as weak, feeble, victims in life.
Before you react to the next thing that you face… take time to consider. What you consider things to be on the light of Who God is, in the light of Who you are in Christ and in the light of the New Covenant Word will determine whether you are facing a tombstone or a stepping stone, an opportunity or a calamity. - Selah
