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Lift up eyes

Welcome to my December 2012, blog-post!

image source: dreamstime.com
We are just moments away from 2013! Praise God for His faithfulness. I am exceedingly grateful to God for a wonderful year, filled with the richness of His love through Christ Jesus our Lord!

There are three words that have been resonating with me through this holiday season,   "lift up eyes". Let me share some thoughts with you.

The Dictionary defines "lift" as, "to move or bring(something) upward from the ground or other support, to a higher position; to raise or direct upward..." (Dictionary.com).

For some of us, the journey may not have been plain sailing. There were challenges encountered that reminded us of how limited we were. Discouragement slows us down and we put things on hold. What does the enemy hold before us to captivate our attention and keep us from God?  Instead of pressing in to God to find the solutions for our problems, we give in to Satan who leads us away to something else. And so the "wool has been pulled over our eyes" and we are kept in darkness. We make little decisions... instead of the big ones that we need to make about what God requires of us.

Praise God that He wants to direct us from the lower places we are at, upward to a place, where the Apostle Paul says, "God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus" Ephesians 2:6.

I'm reminded of the story of Joshua at the time before the conquest of Jericho. Moses was gone and Joshua was faced with the enormous task of leading the children of Israel across to the promised land. Let's look at Joshua 5:13-14 says :
"And it came to pass, when Joshua was by Jericho, that he lifted up his eyes and looked, and, behold, there stood a man over against him with his sword drawn in his hand: and Joshua went to him, and said to him, Are you for us, or for our adversaries?"
“Neither,” he replied, “but as commander of the army of the Lord I have now come.” Then Joshua fell face down to the ground in reverence, and asked him, “What message does my Lord have for his servant?”
The commander of the Lord’s army replied, “Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy.” And Joshua did so.

What position will you take as we move into the new year? The Psalmist says in Psalm 121:1, "I will lift up my eyes to the hills -- where does my help come from?  There will be spiritual battles to fight in 2013. To Joshua, God revealed himself as a man of war. He stands with his sword drawn in his hand, ready to defend us against our enemies. In the rest of the seven verses in Psalm 121, God is portrayed as our Creator, our ever-vigilant guardian, our refuge and guide and He assures us of His Presence with us! Halleluiah!!

So, will you lift up your eyes and trust God in the coming year!

A Word Of Prayer :
Heavenly Father, Help us to keep our eyes on You. 
For only with your presence and help can we conquer 
our promised land in 2013.In Jesus Name!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

Comments

  1. (email) from: Gary and Linda Palmer
    6:13 AM (7 hours ago)

    Loved this blog, Lome. . .lifting up my eyes to the Author and Finisher of my faith! Thank you for your faithfulness in sharing these blogs. . . they always increase my faith and love for our Lord Jesus Christ!

    I think that 2013 is a year that God will be really separating those who are really following Him, and in love with Jesus Christ, with those who are just playing "games." The last days are seriously upon us now (we are living in 2 Timothy 3 times), and our focus needs to be on our relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ, daily purifying ourselves as we search our hearts. I love the Lord Jesus so much, and only want to please HIS heart!

    Love you dear sister in the Lord,

    Linda

    ReplyDelete

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