Month: October 2023

A Better View

Scripture

Psalm 121 says, “…I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth. He will not let your foot be moved; He who keeps you will not slumber. Behold, He who keeps Israel will neither slumber nor sleep. The Lord is your Keeper; the Lord is your Shade on your right hand. The sun shall not strike you by day, nor the moon by night. The Lord will keep you from all evil; He will keep your life. The Lord will keep your going out and your coming in from this time forth and forevermore.”

There is a lot to be said for looking up. Looking up from your smart phone. Looking up from your desk pile. Looking up from the to-do list. Looking up from life’s circumstances. Looking up from life’s messes…

And then it can happen. You see a masterpiece, like a mountian scene. You see the person in front of you, you see God’s creation, you see hope, you see vastness and beauty that is “real world” instead of virtual, you see possibilities and opportunities. You wonder how easily you might have missed it all…

As one who spends more time inside than outside, I especially need the “up look” in my life. I really do need to get outside, to take walks (not just for exercise), to visit the beach as often as possible. I need to reach upward for the God Who provides help. Help to believe when my faith is shaken. Help to feel His presence when so much of life seems upside-down. Help to stand firm in love for Him and for others. Help to find the good in people who bear God’s image. Help to move beyond disappointments and fears. Help to meet life’s demands with grace and humility. Help to receive His abundant mercies and grace.

God is my Keeper. Therefore, I cannot be lost or unsafe. He is my spiritual GPS. He safeguards my soul and protects my heart from false views of Him, myself, the past, and the future. He promises that, if I abide in Him, I will bear much fruit – the eternal kind that is. He personally watches over my life and will see me safely through to eternal life with Him after earth’s difficult journey.

God is Present. God doesn’t ever go missing (we are actually the ones who go missing). He is near and accessible always. Lord, give me eyes to see your presence and the ability to feel it, I pray. I know I am shielded from things I know and things I do not know. Similar to sunlight, I enjoy the benefits of Your presence, but am often unaware of the dangers from which Your presence is shielding me.

God is my Shade. He is my covering. He makes it possible to breathe deeply. He makes it possible to feel the cool breeze of peace and joy. He refreshes me, leads me to recover from the assaults of daily living, and reminds me that His Word and Spirit provide everything I need to have a heart that is cool, calm, and collected.

so, I will lift up my eyes to the hills.

Calling My Name Twice

Scripture

Has your heart ever been seized by someone calling out your name twice? You know something is amiss. There is something of great importance that needs to be communicated. You wonder if you did something terribly wrong, but can’t imagine what in the moment. Your attention has been grabbed. Your listening skills are honed in. You can’t fathom not answering.

In a recent Bible study, I was reminded of the times in Scripture that someone’s name is called out twice for great emphasis. And, in looking at the situations, you find that something very important is forthcoming.

Genesis 22:11-13 (NIV) says, “But the angel of the Lord called out to him from heaven, ‘Abraham! Abraham!’ ‘Here I am,’ he replied. ‘Do not lay a hand on the boy,’ he said. ‘Do not do anything to him. Now I know that you fear God, because you have not withheld from me your son, your only son.’ Abraham looked up and there in a thicket he saw a ram caught by its horns. He went over and took the ram and sacrificed it as a burnt offering instead of his son.”

The interruption of a would-be slaying was vastly important. The provision of a substitute was vastly important. The compassion and salvation of the Lord was vastly important. And Abraham’s faith and obedience were vastly important. No wonder Abraham’s name was called out twice.

When you look at other similar instances in Scripture, you find “Jacob, Jacob” (Genesis 46:1-4); “Moses, Moses” (Exodus 3:1-10); “Lord, Almighty” (1 Samuel 3:1-10); “Simon, Simon” (Luke 22:31-32); “Saul, Saul” (Acts 9:1-6); and “God, God” (Matthew 27:46). Each situation depicts something important to be communicated, something amiss, something needing attention, something demanding an answer, something requiring excellent listening skills.

I am reminded to eliminate the clutter on my to-do list and the screen-noise in my life, so that when God calls my name, I am awake and ready to respond. Because I have been quiet. Because I have been ready. Because I have been hopeful. Because I can hear better when my gaze is set on Christ alone.

In the stillness, the blank canvas of my heart anticipates that a call from God will surely come. I definitely don’t want to miss it.