The presence of God provides an eternal perspective that sets the tone for everything else in our lives. 

Romans 12:1-2

The bible is telling us a couple of truths here: 

• Our minds need to be transformed.
• It is an intentional process that we have to pursue.

The more our minds and our thinking is transformed, the more we can experience abiding joy. 

There are two places where our minds have to be renewed:

I.  How we see life

There are two extreme views:

1. This life is it. 
   
   
2. This life is a journey to eternity. 

When we begin to see this life as the womb for eternity, a couple of things change that allow us to have abiding joy. 


Purpose

When we see that eternity is what matters, we are not robbed of ambition but the reason behind the ambition changes.  

There is abiding joy in only the purpose of God.

If this life is it, then life is fragile. It can be ruined. 

Troubles

The biggest trouble we face is the death of something or someone. 

How we conform to the world or how we allow ourselves to be transformed impacts us in times of trouble.

Grief or loss can pull us down in bitterness and despair when life is all about this world. 

Grief or loss can invite the light of God’s promises into our life and fill us with hope.

Our view of life needs to be renewed by the promises of God.

We cannot walk in abiding joy when our hopes and dreams are in this fallen world. 

II.  How we see others 

His Grace offers forgiveness to us all.

His Grace helps us.

How do we see God? 

There is no abiding joy when there is abiding bitterness and hate. 

For our hearts to have abiding joy, our minds must be transformed in how we see others. 

People are the most valuable thing on this earth. We need to get good at loving and serving people.