Keep Your Eyes On Him

     As long as we live on this earth, we will experience joy and gladness, but we will also experience trials and troubles. None of us are immune to tough times and disappointment. If however, you will turn to the Lord in the day of trouble, He will use the very thing that causes you pain or suffering to grow you in Him, give you peace unexplainable and comfort you with the comfort that only He can give. Keep in mind that the trial you may be going through right now is only temporary. God will bring you through to the other side. Until then, know and believe that God will work it all together for your greater good and His glory. "And we know  that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose (Romans 8:28)."      David who was a "man after God's own heart" (Acts 13:22), experienced great heartache and suffering. However, David chose to keep his eyes on the Lord instead of his circumstance...

   "O our God, will You not execute judgment on them? For we are powerless against this great horde that is coming against us. We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on You (2 Chronicles 20:12)."      Life can be hard at times and we may feel overwhelmed by situations that are beyond our control. None of us are immune to trials and difficulties. We are in one of three situations: currently in a trial, just coming out of a trial or getting ready to go through a trial. While this may sound a bit pessimistic, Jesus Himself said "In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world (John 16:33)." The key is to keep your eyes on Him and not your circumstances.       In the above verse from 2 Chronicles, Jehoshaphat and his people were facing an impossible situation. A great multitude of the people from Moab and Ammons were coming against them to battle. I imagine he felt fear as he knew (in his own strength) he wa...

     "Then the Lord said to satan, 'Have you considered my servant Job? There is no one on earth like him; he is blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil. And he still maintains his integrity, though you incited me against him to ruin him without any reason (Job 2:3)."      The Lord is on His throne and in complete control. Every single thing you go through, must first pass through His loving hands. satan is not the opposite of God, he is a created being. Though the world is "under the power of the evil one" (1 John 5:19), satan must ask permission from the Lord before he can do anything . His plans are always to cause division in families, friendships or partnerships, cause doubt, and damage your testimony. "The thief comes only to steal, kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it abundatly (John 10:10)." It is important to remember that satan is our enemy, not man.       You may be asking som...

     "I was pushed back and about to fall, but the Lord helped me. The Lord is my strength and my song; He has become my salvation. Shouts of joy and victory resound in the tents of the righteous: The Lord's right hand has done mighty things! The Lord's right hand is lifted high; the Lord's right hand has done mighty things! I will not die but live, and will proclaim what the Lord has done (Psalm 118:13-17)."     If anyone knew about troubles and living with sin, it was David. He committed adultery with Bathsheba and got her pregnant. But instead of confessing his sin to the Lord, he took matters into his own hands and ended up having her husband killed. Now, he not only committed adultery, he committed murder and lied to cover it up as well and yet, God called him a "man after His own heart (Acts 13:22)."       How, in spite of all that David had done, be considered a man after God's own heart? While David was far from perfect, he eventua...

     "When I in righteousness, awake in Heaven I will be fully satisfied for I will see You face to face (Psalm 17:15)."      This world, the people and the things in it, will never truly satisfy the void in each person's heart. God created you and me and put a longing in our heart for eternity that only He can fill. You may try to fill this void with relationships, material things, drugs, alcohol, status or a job. However, all of these will leave you wanting more. Jesus is the only one who satisfies. "Let them give thanks to the Lord for His unfailing love and His wonderful deeds for men, for He satisfies the thirsty and fills the hungry with good things (Psalm 107:9)."      The life we live here on earth is only temporary and passes quickly. One thing is certain, we will all face death. The question is, where will you spend eternity? Will it be in heaven with Jesus where there will be no more death, mourning, crying or pain (Revelation 2...

     "The Lord is a refuge for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble. Those who know Your name will trust in You, for You, Lord have never forsaken those who seek You (Psalm 9:9-10)."      I don't know what you are facing right now. Maybe it's a financial issue, sickness, heartache or broken relationship. Whatever it is, Jesus is your refuge both now and forever. He is a stronghold, in other words, He is a "fortress and a place of survival." He will never, ever leave you.        Life can be hard and at times it can seem unbearable. But if you will trust Jesus and keep your eyes on Him-not your circumstances, He will fill you with His peace. He will give you joy even in the most difficult seasons of your life. When we go through trials, our human tendency is to focus on the pain. We want a quick fix. We may at times even think the pain-this trial-will never end. This is exactly what the enemy wants. He wants you to give up. H...

     "When they heard this, they were furious and gnashed their teeth at him. But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, looked up to heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. Look, he said, I see heaven open and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God. At this they covered their ears and yelling at the top of their voices, they all rushed at him, dragged him out of the city and began to stone him. Meanwhile, the witnesses laid their clothes at the feet of a young man named Saul. While they were stoning him, Stephen prayed, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit. Then he fell on his knees and cried out, Lord do not hold this sin against them. When he had said this, he fell asleep (Acts 7:54-60)."      There are several key points to takeaway from these verses. Stephen was being persecuted because he was preaching the word of God. He did not waiver even though his life was at stake. He remained obedient to God at whatever the...

     "If anyone would come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it but whoever loses his life for Me and for the gospel will save it. What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul (Mark 8:34-36)?"      Over and over in His word, Jesus tells us to follow Him, but we must first understand what this looks like. To follow  is defined as "to engage in as a calling or a way of life ; to be or act in accordance with; to accept as authority." Following Jesus is a lifestyle. It is so much more than going to church or engaging in a Bible study, or helping the needy, or doing other good things; it is a relationship with the Lord Jesus. One where we abide in Him day after day, allowing Him to have His way in and through us. It is submitting to His lordship~His authority.       Many of the churches today preach a "feel good" message that i...

     "You have made known to me the path of life; You will fill me with joy in Your presence, with eternal pleasures at Your right hand (Psalm 16:11)."      My friend, Jesus is the only one who can fulfill the deep longing you have within. He is life; there is joy in His presence. He will come in and fill the void that is in your heart and make you whole. Jesus created you, therefore, He is the only one who can truly satisfy. It is only when you come to Him, your soul is at rest and you have peace with God.       Until you come to Jesus, you will try to fill the void with many things. Some may try to fill it with relationships, some may fill it with drugs or alcohol, some may fill it with material things, some may fill it with work, and some may fill it with religious activities. All of these things will leave you empty and continually wanting more. Jesus is the answer; the living water. When you drink from the water He gives you, you...

     "You too, be patient and stand firm, because the Lord's coming is near. Don't grumble against each other, brothers, or you will be judged. The judge is standing at the door! Brothers, as an example of patience in the face of suffering, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. As you know, we consider blessed those who have persevered. You have heard of Job's perseverance and have seen what the Lord finally brought about. The Lord is full of compassion and mercy (James 5:8-11)."      Suffering is something none of us like, however, at some point in our lives, we will experience suffering. Jesus said, "In this world you will have trouble, but take heart, I have overcome the world (John 16:33). Sometimes the suffering is quick but other times, it seems to never end. The word suffering means "the state of undergoing pain, distress or hardship." We may suffer in this life for several reasons. It could be directly related to a choice w...

     "Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil, but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres (1 Corinthians 13:4-7)."   I am going to be transparent with you. As I read these verses about love, I was convicted as I realized I have not been showing love as described here. Lately, I have found myself easily offended and at times self-seeking. I was holding on to the wrongs that have been done to me instead of releasing them to the Lord. Because I had been holding on to the offenses, a root of bitterness had begun to spring up within me. I did not like it-not one bit. The Lord used a series of events and wise counsel to open my eyes and help me to see where I have sinned.       While this was not easy, I am so grateful that the Lo...

     "Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death~or the darkest valley~I will fear no evil, for You are with me ; Your rod (protection) and Your staff (guidance), they comfort me. You prepare a table for me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil (healing), my cup overflows (blessings). Surely goodness and mercy (God's grace) will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever (Psalm 23:4-6)."      My friend, I don't know what you are going through right now. You may be in one of the darkest times of your life. It may seem as though this "valley" you are in will never end. There may be times that you just want to give up.This is exactly what the enemy would like for you to do, but don't listen to the lies He whispers. God has promised that He is with you-at all times-the good and the bad, and because God is not a man that He should lie (Numbers 23:19), you can rest in every one...

     "Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, 'Now the dwelling of God is with men, and He will live with them. They will be His people, and God Himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death, or mourning or crying or pain , for the old order of things has passed away.' He who was seated on the throne said, 'I am making everything new!' Then He said, 'Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true' (Revelation 21:1-5)."      This my friend, is the hope that everyone who believes-who puts their trust in the Lord Jesus Christ has. The life we now live on earth is really just a moment in comparison with...

I know there are times when it feels like others are truly your enemy, by the things they say or how they treat you, however, they are not your real enemy-satan is. While he does use people as part of his strategy, he is always the one behind the warfare. You must remember this at all times. Don't let satan catch you off guard. He will come at you especially during times you are tired both physically and emotionally. He comes only to kill, steal and destroy-your family, your testimony, your finances, your relationships and your health. satan is the father of lies, he was a murderer from the beginning and there is no truth found in him (John 8:44).      Satan has been deceiving people since the Garden of Eden where he first deceived Eve. He appeared to her and asked "Did God really say, you must not eat from any tree in the garden?" which caused her to question God (Genesis 3:1). Make no mistake, satan knows the word of God and he will distort it for his evil schemes. He...

     "At one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions, and pleasures. But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, He saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of His great mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by His grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life (Titus 3:3-8)."      Several things stand out to me as I was reading these verses. The first one is that at one time, every single one of us (who are now saved), lived a life of rebellion; rebellion towards God-a selfish, sinful, prideful life. We were all once enemies of the cross. We were blind and did not realize we were blind. It is not until God removes the veil over our eyes, that we can see. We were literally the walking dead. Our body was alive, howe...

     "Praise awaits You, O God in Zion; to You our vows will be fulfilled. O You who hear prayer, to You all men will come. When we were overwhelmed by sins, You forgave our transgressions. Blessed are those You choose and bring to live in Your courts. We are filled with the good things of Your house, of Your holy temple. You answer us with awesome deeds of righteousness, O God, our Savior, the hope of all the ends of the earth and of the farthest seas, the roaring of their waves and the turmoil of the nations. Those living far away fear Your wonders, where morning dawns and evening fades, You call forth songs of joy (Psalm 65:1-8)."      God alone is worthy of all praise! He is the only One who can cleanse us and make us new. He forgives all of our sins-past, present and future. He knows all because He is omniscient. He sees all because He is omnipresent. God knows every single detail about you. He knows every sin you have ever committed and ever will co...

     "How lovely is Your dwelling place, O Lord Almighty! My soul yearns, even faints, for the courts of the Lord; my heart and my flesh cry out for the living God. Even the sparrow has found a home, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may have her young-a place near Your altar, O Lord Almighty, my King and my God. Blessed are those who dwell in Your house; they are ever praising You (Psalm 84:1-4)."      In the presence of the Lord, there is fullness of joy. The problems of this world, the sadness, loss and heartache fade in the light of His beauty and grace. You and I will go through many trials and difficulties in our lifetime. None of us are exempt from disappointment and pain. We are either going through a trial, coming out of one, or getting ready to go through one. I am not writing this to discourage you, but rather to encourage your heart. Because you and I have a refuge we can run to; His name is Jesus. He will fill your heart and soul...

     "My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have one who speaks to the Father in our defense-Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours, but also for the sins of the whole world (1 John 2:1-2)."      We all have a sin nature. Even if you are saved by the blood of Christ, you still have a sin nature. Yes, you have been redeemed and been filled with His Holy Spirit, but you will have this sin nature until the day Christ comes, and you are made like Him (1 John 3:2).  With that being said, there will be a battle between our flesh and our spirit all the days of our life. That is why Jesus said, "If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross daily  and follow Me (Luke 9:23). To deny ourselves is simply laying aside our desires and our will, then surrendering to God and His will.       If you...

     "The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not be in want. He makes me lie down in green pastures, He leads me beside quiet waters, He restores my soul. He guides me in the paths of righteousness for His name's sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me (Psalm 23:1-4)."      There is a peace that the Lord Jesus gives. This peace has nothing to do with your circumstances. Rather it is a peace in knowing-beyond any doubt-that you never walk alone. It is a peace that Jesus gives even in the worst of circumstances because you know He has you and will never ever leave you. Being in the valley of the shadow of death or in heartbreaking circumstances is by no means easy, however, if you will look to Jesus and keep your eyes on Him, not your circumstances, you will have peace. Not only that, but you will have joy. Because being in His presence brings fullness o...

    " Fear not , for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are Mine . When you pass through the waters, I will be with you ; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire , you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. for I am the Lord you God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior; I give Egypt for your ransom, Cush and Seba in your stead. Since you are precious and honored in My sight, and because I love you (Isaiah 43:1-4)."       The Lord showed me these verses several years ago when I was deep in the valley. Ever since that time, I have clung to these same verses whenever I face a trial. Read them again and let them sink into your heart. These words are for you right now in whatever impossible situation or heartache you may be facing. God promises that when we walk through the fire, we will NOT be burned and when we go through the rivers, they won't sweep over us. Or in othe...