I Will Keep My Eyes Fixed On You

   "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 was powerless against the Moabites and the Ammonites.
     Instead of giving into his fear, Jehoshaphat stood before his people, and made a determined choice. He chose to keep his eyes on the Lord and not his present circumstances. Jehoshaphat knew that their help could only come from Him. Their only answer was to trust the Lord. 
     What are you facing today that is impossible? Maybe you have exhausted all of your methods of trying to "fix" the situation and nothing has worked. Have you considered that the Lord has allowed this difficulty in your life to cause you to lean on Him like never before, to grow your faith, and make you more like His Son? God is sovereign, which means He is in control. He Himself existed before anything else did, and He holds all creation together (Colossians 1:17). Nothing happens that does not first pass through God's loving hands. If you are in Christ, this world is not your home. As Billy Graham said, "My home is in heaven. I'm just traveling through." I cannot imagine the inexpressible joy I will feel when I one day see the face of Jesus. No amount of suffering I go through here on earth will ever compare to the glory that will be revealed in me! 
     In the meantime, when we go through a trial, the most important thing we can do is to remember the attributes of God. 
He is:

  • good 
  • true
  • just
  • righteous 
  • loving 
  • compassionate 
  • holy
  • sovereign
  • perfect
  • faithful
  • merciful
  • patient
  • gracious
     God is good even when your situation is not good. He has a good plan for you even when it doesn't "feel" good. "For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future (Jeremiah 29:11)." God's ways are higher than our ways and His thoughts are higher than our thoughts (Isaiah 55:9). Though we don't understand a lot of the things we go through now, one day we will. 
     Until that day comes however, the Lord will give us grace to keep pressing on. He will flood our soul with His peace that passes all understanding in spite of the pain. He will give us joy in the midst of heartache and He will never, ever leave us. 
     Keep holding on to the hope you have in Christ and know that nothing you do for Him is ever in vain (1 Corinthians 15:58)." 

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