I will lift up my eyes to the hills, From whence comes my help? My help comes from the Lord, Who made heaven and earth. Psalm 121
You may find yourself spending too much time in life looking down. Looking up means dreaming something new, seeing the splendor around you, or finding hope in a hopeless situation. Looking up means looking into the face of God, for that is where your help comes from.
Look up, it’s time to realize your help comes from the Lord.
“For I am God, your God….I own the cattle on a thousand hills.” Psalm 50
In Psalm 50 God is saying in simple terms that everything belongs to Him. He also loves to bless those who love him. With a simple two minute search I found over 40 bible verses where God says He is our supply. None more powerful than Deuteronomy 28, in which God provides a very long laundry list of blessings He is prepared to supply to those who love Him. God literally says He will, “Open the heavens, and the storehouse of His bounty, to send rain on our land, and bless the work of our hands.”
Look to God for your needs. He is all you need.
God said, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” 2 Corinthians 12:9
In second Corinthians, Paul bears his soul. He laments a challenge he’s personally having, one he’s asked God multiple times to remove. We don’t know what that personal flaw is, but it bothers him to the point of praying for its removal. God responds to him by saying, “My grace is sufficient for you, my power is made perfect in (your) weakness.”
We all have flaws. Thankfully, God’s grace is endless.
Jesus said, “Peace, be still.” Mark 4:39
The disciples were terrified as the wind and waves were roiling their boat on the sea. In fear they woke up a sleeping Jesus and said to him, “don’t you care that we are perishing?” Jesus responded, “oh you of little faith”. Then said,
The wind subsided and the waves became calm. And yet, there were two targets for Jesus words; one was the storm, the second was the fearful disciples. You see, when Jesus says, Peace, be still he’s saying that to us today, just as God said in Psalm 46:10 “Be still and know that I am God.” You have nothing to fear when you put your life in Jesus’s hands.
“With man it is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” Matthew 19:26
There is a famous poem written in 1910 by English writer and novelist Rudyard Kipling called “If”. The poem seeks to define a virtuous man, or I’d like to think person, with a most compelling prose. I would encourage anyone to read “If” in it’s entirety, but I will give to you here just a brief preview: “If you can keep your head when all about you are losing theirs and blaming it on you, If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you, but make allowance for their doubting too; If you can wait and not be tired by waiting, or being lied about, don’t deal in lies, or being hated, don’t give way to hating, And yet don’t look too good, nor talk too wise…If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster and treat those two impostors just the same…” I’ve read these words from Kipling countless times through the years, and take them to heart as they so vividly mirror the life that Jesus said we should
We give up far too easily in living a noble life when times gets tough, when stones are thrown in our direction, when hopelessness seems inevitable. Dreams seem no match when lies are piled upon us, or distain is leveled at us. And yet, Jesus did not leave us empty handed. Always remember, “With man it is impossible, but with God, all things are possible”. Start with living a life of prayer. As you draw near to God you will be amazed at the life you find yourself living.
“Love one another as I have loved you.” John 15:12
Spend any time at all listening to, or engaging in, the political discourse in this nation and you will quickly find there is a sincere lack of love going around. And yet, Jesus asks us to love one another as He loves us. How do we do that with so much disagreement? Jesus did not say it would be easy to love.
You may not agree with someone who holds opposing views to yours. Choose to love them anyway. Indeed the request seems so simple, but there is depth in Jesus’ request that really stretches us uncomfortably. Perhaps that’s why there is really so little love around us. We can change that. Care to expand your love language and put a little more love in your heart?
“For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is His (God’s) love for those who fear him.” Psalm 103:11
When I read Psalm 103 I have very little comprehension of the depths of God’s love. As high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is His love for us? Me? Really? This frail, imperfect being just trying my best to live one day to the next? How can God love someone like me? He knows my past mistakes, he knows the mistakes I have yet to make, and still, He loves?
I’ve heard a recurring theme from so many who do not choose to believe. It really comes down to trust. Why would God possibly care about me, they ask. The simple answer is He does. He sent his son Jesus to the cross to prove it, just to save us, and restore us to Him. 1 John 3:1 says, “Behold what manner of love the father has given unto us that we might be called the children of God.” The truth is, God is love. Trust him.
“The Lord hardened Pharaoh’s heart and he would not listen to Moses, just as the Lord had said to Moses.” Exodus 9:12
In 1773 an Englishman named William Cowper penned a poem that would eventually become a beloved hymn that would be sung through the centuries, “God moves in mysterious ways, His wonders to perform. He plants His footsteps in the seas and rides up on the storm.” We don’t always understand why God does what He does, nor when he chooses to do it. I’m sure at the time Moses spent many a night wondering in the back of his mind why God hardened Pharaoh’s heart rather than softening it and letting his people go free sooner rather than later. We can all say the same thing about the circumstances in our lives. Every time I even start to question God’s timing, I think of that old Hymn, “God moves in mysterious ways, HIS WONDERS to perform.
The Children of Israel trapped in Egypt needed to learn who God was, and to trust Him with all their heart. Give us everything we want, when we want it, and we usually find ourselves mired in a soup of selfish and ungrateful behavior. God knows what He’s doing. Trust Him beyond what you think you need, and watch as He fills those empty holes in your life with His perfect plan for you.
“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” John 14:27
Jesus said, “my peace I give to you, not as the world gives.” What does it take to have such a peaceful quality when the world around us is in chaos? Jesus promised us peace, yet we have a role to play in how that is achieved. We have to trust. Jesus made a promise.
If you are living with a fear or anxiety today there is a road to peace. Jesus is saying, I am here! You need nothing more. Take Him up on his offer. Say “Jesus, I trust you. I hand my burdens to you. Grant me your peace today.”
“To everything there is a season, and a time for every purpose under heaven.” Ecclesiastes 3:1
As we live out our daily lives Ecclesiastes chapter three says it all; “there is a time for every purpose under heaven.” Always remember,
Sometimes God uses a microwave and provides us instant gratification, and sometimes He slow cooks the recipe because He knows the longer things cook the richer they taste. When you put your trust in God, let Him work out the strategy and the timing for what He has for your life. You’ll be amazed at what God has in store for you, and how savory the journey.
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