Looking Unto the Lord

Often, I wonder if we think about God as much as He thinks about us. Can we move past the current issues in our day-to-day activities to praise Him, call upon Him, thank Him, or even just say “I love you”? 

Psalms 84:11-12 “For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord bestows favor and honor; no good thing does he withhold from those whose walk is blameless. Lord Almighty, blessed is the one who trusts in you.”

What goes on in our days? We can be at work and get a simple distraction. We can have a meeting, a call, or even have the moment that we are just zoned out. If you are at home, what are the distractions around you? Are you watching TV and cannot make time for the family? Is your time spent working-out, using our phones, or just recuperating from a bad day? My friends, God is always with us.

Ephesians 6:10-20 “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore, put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people. Pray also for me, that whenever I speak, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should.”

If we look at His face or even try to imagine Him looking at us, what do you envision or see? We first need to take a step back and know the fullness of God. We need to rest assured that only He can fulfill our needs. Only He can fill the lost and empty space within us, repair our broken hearts, and fully quench our need to feel loved. 

At times we can get so distracted that we do not see the simplest blessings around us, smell the dew of the spring air or feel a summer breeze, see a rose or daffodil blooming in the sunlight, or even watch our children grow through the stages of youth into adulthood. Yet today, I see a nation and world that has moved into one in which everything is OK and acceptable.

1 Corinthians 10:13 “No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.”

We, as parents, have no control over what is played on TV, on the radio, or over the internet. We even have no control over what the schools try to force upon our children. All of us have let society, instead of God, determine what is right and wrong.

When did this happen or how did it happen? It was the day that we, as Christians, stopped praying, teaching our kids the Word, and letting man be the guide instead of our heavenly Father. When are we going to wake up and put God back in everything we do? When do we say “Enough is Enough!” and PRAY for God to return, show His presence, fill us with love, and show us that he Has been here all along and has been patiently waiting for us to return to Him.

Psalm 32:8 “I will instruct you and teach you in the way which you should go; I will counsel you with My eye upon you.”

James 1:5 “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him.”

Proverbs 28:5 “Those who seek the Lord understand all things.”

Psalm 16:11 “You will make known to me the path of life; in Your presence is fullness of joy; in Your right hand there are pleasures forever.”

Psalms 143:10 “Teach me to do your will, for you are my God; may your good Spirit lead me on level ground.”

No man or woman on earth can say we know His timing, as He alone is in charge of all time. We can bat an eye and know it has been a second or even a day but He can close his eyes and it is an eternity. Why do we allow doors to be opened that should not be? Why are we ok with our children, family, friends thinking that homosexuality and fornication are acceptable in the eyes of the Lord? When did lying, gossip, and apostasy become commonplace? Yes, we are to love all of our bothers and sisters but when did we become afraid to call sin, a sin, for what it is?

How can we bring His face and His presence back into our everyday lives? That is the question that we all need to think about and grasp before it is too late.  I want to know that I did my best to raise my children, help my family, and help my friends to realize that we have become the backseat passenger and let the world be the driver of our lives instead of allowing God to set the course and take the wheel. Why can't we pick up the Bible and use that as our GPS?

WAKE UP BROTHERS, WAKE UP SISTERS, GOD IS KNOCKING! WHEN WILL YOU OPEN THE DOOR AND LET HIM IN?

How is it that when we look at our life, we cannot see what it is that we have become? We see all of the material things that have been put in front of us and wait for the total package. Why is it that material things have become what we most value in our lives?

Matthew 6:19-21 “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

When I think about everything that we are supposed to be doing or the life that we are supposed to live, I see that everyone has left what is most valuable in the rear-view mirror. God has not blessed us with all of the material things that we feel the need to buy, that fantastic item that we saw on TV, or even the new gadget that we had to have because our friend had it. God only gives what we can handle. He will bless the faithful and continue to grow us in faith if we only rely on him.

James 1:3 “because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. “

1 Corinthians 4:2 “Moreover, it is required of stewards that they be found trustworthy. “

At the time, I see that everyone has the need to acquire more and more. Why is that?Hosea 4:10 “They shall eat, but no be satisfied." When Jesus was born what did He have? Where was he born? Why is it that we have the need to say where our children were born, in the prestige place, or where they were delivered? From the moment of His birth, Jesus showed humility, compassion, and eternal love. He was fully God and King but yet He put on the garments of humility and service and entered into the world in a crib of hay.

Look at your surroundings, your belongings, all the material items in front of you. Can you let them go if God asked you too? Can you let them go if someone in need would take them or ask for them? Think about it this way, if God came to your house, knocked on the door and asked you for help, what would you do? I personally would give Him everything on bended knee.
Now, ask yourself this: If a stranger, homeless person, mother with four children knocked at your door asking the same, what then would your answer be?

Matthew 25: 31-40 "When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his glorious throne.  All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats.  He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left. Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world.  For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.' "Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you?  When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?' "The King will reply, 'Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.' “

We have to look at everyone as they are brothers and sisters. We cannot look back at what we have never been able to see but what it is that God has commanded us to do. He does not ask because he wants us to be without but he asks us so that we can be tested and then we will see our blessing and our eternal.

I would like to ask you to stop what you are doing and take a good look at yourself. Ask yourself if you are doing all that God has called you to do and are living your life the correct way, and no this is not living in the world but how God wants us to live our lives. If you are not sure, then take the step of faith and give your life to Christ. Pray and ask him to come into your life, release everything to him at his feet, repent of all your sins, leave the worldly things with him and know that God is in charge now. When I did this I had to fight a few things as I had lived in the world for so long. Becoming a Christian is not easy and you will have to seek his word daily, pray, worship and surround yourselves with people that are equally yoked and follow our Lord and Savior. I pray that the questions I asked as well as the scripture impacts each of you that read this and now that we are always here to help and pray. 

Luke 12:33-34 “Sell your possessions, and give to the needy. Provide yourselves with moneybags that do not grow old, with a treasure in the heavens that does not fail, where no thief approaches and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.”

Matthew 19:16-30 “And behold, a man came up to him, saying, “Teacher, what good deed must I do to have eternal life?”  And he said to him, “Why do you ask me about what is good? There is only one who is good. If you would enter life, keep the commandments.” He said to him, “Which ones?” And Jesus said, “You shall not murder, You shall not commit adultery, You shall not steal, You shall not bear false witness, Honor your father and mother, and, You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” The young man said to him, “All these I have kept. What do I still lack?” Jesus said to him, “If you would be perfect, go, sell what you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.” When the young man heard this he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions. And Jesus said to his disciples, “Truly, I say to you, only with difficulty will a rich person enter the kingdom of heaven. Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.” When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished, saying, “Who then can be saved?” But Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” Then Peter said in reply, “See, we have left everything and followed you. What then will we have?” Jesus said to them, “Truly, I say to you, in the new world, when the Son of Man will sit on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or lands, for my name's sake, will receive a hundredfold and will inherit eternal life. But many who are first will be last, and the last first. "