Eyes To See

 

Now faith is the assurance, the confirmation,

the title deed of the things we hope for,

being the proof of things we do not see

and the conviction of their reality,

faith perceiving as real fact what is not revealed to the senses.

Heb. 11:1 (AMP)

We think of things here on earth as the "real" world and heavenly things as ethereal. We are so in tune with our earthly senses it is hard for us to conceive that the heavenly kingdom is actually more real, concrete and permanent than what we can see, hear, taste, touch and smell here on earth. 

Faith awakens our spiritual senses so that we are able to perceive all the realities of the heavenly realm.  We are encouraged to focus our eyes on Jesus, to listen for his voice, to taste and see that the Lord is good until the realities of heaven become our reality here on earth.  If we are continually caught up in our earthly senses we will be brought down to the earth's level of worry, fear and lust, but, if we lift our eyes to the heavenly realm we will be walking in a new reality that will permeate our lives here.

Lord, give us eyes to see, ears to hear and a heart that understands so that we might turn unreservedly toward you, receiving all that the realities of heaven have to offer.

That is why we never give up. 

Though our bodies are dying,
our spirits are being renewed every day. 

For our present troubles are small and won’t last very long.

Yet they produce for us a glory 
that vastly outweighs them and will last forever!
So we don’t look at the troubles we can see now;

rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. 

For the things we see now will soon be gone,

but the things we cannot see will last forever.

 2 Cor 4:16-18 (NLT)

Since you have been raised to new life with Christ,

set your sights on the realities of heaven, 

where Christ sits in the place of honor at God’s right hand. 

Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth. 

For you died to this life,
and your real life is hidden with Christ in God. 

 Col 3:1-4 (NLT)

Seated With Christ

Karen & Simon's Garden, Nelson, B.C.

 

And God raised us up with Christ 

and seated us with him in the heavenly realms

in Christ Jesus.

Eph 2:6 (NIV)

This morning it was a comfort to me and a strengthening to realize that I have been raised to the heavenly realm seated with Christ.  As I imagine myself there, I realize that Christ is right beside me helping me to make decisions and calming me so that I can thoughtfully face my circumstances.  It is a very stressful time in my life right now. We are buying a new house in one state and trying to sell or rent one in another.  Thinking about moving and all that that entails has put a lot of stress on my mind, emotions and relationships.

It is good to know that as I am sitting there with him all the resources of the heavenly realm are at my instant disposal.  I don't have to run around frantically looking for the things I need.  I feel like a queen on her throne next to her king.  "Lord,  I need a little peace here.  Lord, I need some balm to soothe the nerves. Lord, I need an extra dose of patience to face the irritations." Then, instantly I have the supply I need.

All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,

who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms

because we are united with Christ.

Eph 1:3 (NLT)

Feast

Brian's & My Le's rib feast.

You prepare a feast for me in the presence of my enemies.

Psalms 23:5 (NLT)

Jesus came to give us life, a full and abundant life, enjoying all of his good gifts and experiencing his love, joy and peace every day. 

Unfortunately, we are faced with many enemies that try to rob us of this abundant, satisfying life.  These enemies take many shapes; anxiety, depression, self-pity, fear, pride or anger. Our lack of knowledge of God and our lack of trust in him opens the door for these destructive things to take root in our lives.

God knows the temptations we face and so prepares a feast for us in the very presence of our enemies. It is not so much a matter of resisting and fighting against our enemies, but of believing in and receiving his life that makes the difference. He calls us to come and relax in his green pastures and feast at his table.  Just as we take in food and our bodies do the invisible work of assimilation that nourishes every cell and strengthens us, so also with the spirit. As we believe and take in the truth about him and all he is and has done, our spiritual being is strengthened.  The strength of his life begins to grow in us replacing our anger with love, our anxiety with peace and our sadness with joy. 

Jesus told the story of many invited to a great feast who were too busy to come (Matthew 22:1-14).  We need to take time to read, to listen, to meditate upon his words, to come to the feast and see what God has provided for us there.  As we feed upon the truths about God, we will be strengthened to resist those enemies which seek to destroy our souls.

The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. 

My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life.  

John 10:10 (NLT)

Quiet Waiting

Kokanee Park, Nelson B.C. Canada

 Let all that I am wait quietly before God,

for my hope is in him.

Psalms 62:5

A good metaphor for faith is that of rest or waiting quietly.  The clamor of our soul is quieted as we rest secure in trust and the knowledge that everything is in God's loving care and he has the power to work everything out.  We may be surrounded by enemies, things that attempt to distress and disturb our peace, but that is the very time God asks us to lie down, waiting quietly in trust and rest. There in that green pasture he feeds and protects us.

He makes me lie down in green pastures.  

Psalms 23:2

  So it is good to wait quietly for salvation from the Lord.      Lamentations 3:26 (NLT)

Related articles

• Wait Quietly...Octavius Winslow (revivalandreformation.wordpress.com)
• How to Wait Well (philslocum.net)

Paths

The steps of the godly are directed by the Lord. He delights in every detail of their lives. Though they stumble, they will never fall, for the Lord holds them by the hand.

Psalms 37:23,24 (NLT)

The Lord, as our Good Shepherd leads us along our daily path.  Sometimes we have no idea where we are going, but as we commit our paths to him we know he will lead the way and make all the details work out. 

Here are words from Jesus Calling, by Sarah Young:

Keep walking with me along the path I have chosen for you.  Together we will forge a pathway up the high mountain.  The journey is arduous at times and you are weak.....for now, your walk is often plodding and heavy.  All I require of you is to take the next step, clinging to my hand for strength and direction. 

Don't be impatient for the Lord to act!

Travel steadily along his path.

He will honor you giving you the land.

Psalms 37:34 (NLT)

You Know Where I Am

You know everything about me. 

Every moment you know where I am.

 Psalm 139:1,3 (NLT)

 Before me, even as behind,

God is —

and all is well.

– John Greenleaf Whittier -

How awesome to know that God understands exactly where we are when life's circumstances press in around us.  Often, we don't even realize what effect these circumstances have on our bodies, minds and emotions. We may have been burning the candle at both ends. Our bodies are worn out and our minds are frazzled. We are too tired even to focus on God.  He understands how we are made. He knows how much we can take. He won't give us more than we can bear and we shouldn't put more on ourselves. He hems us in behind and before. He is our shepherd.  We are the sheep under his care.

God knows where I am in this moment: tired from the long days of constant cleaning and packing to get our house in Oakland ready for sale; feeling uncomfortable because the house is "staged" and a prospective buyer may show up at any moment; confused by the uncertainty regarding the purchase of the house in Arizona.  He understands what effect all of this has had on me physically, mentally and emotionally.

You know where I am right now, Lord, and you know what I need, so I turn and look to you as my Great Shepherd.  Help me to hear your voice and follow your directions each moment, trusting in your shelter and surrounding care. Don’t let me put more on myself than I can reasonably bear.

Take a moment right now to turn to him.  He knows where you are and understands what you need.

Come, let us worship and bow down.

Let us kneel before the Lord our maker,

 for he is our God.

We are the people he watches over, 

the flock under his care.

Psalm 95:6,7 (NLT)

 http://reflectionsintheword.org/2011/07/12/he%E2%80%99s-an-on-time-god-yes-he-is-a-true-story-of-gods-perfect-timing/

 

Set Free

He has sent me to comfort the brokenhearted and to proclaim that captives will be released and prisoners will be freed.

Isaiah 61:1 (NLT)

These are the words I plan to share Sunday with the women at the Federal Correctional Institute in Dublin, California about the freedom that has been purchased for us by Christ. 

What I want you to realize today is that you have been completely set free.  Freedom is costly.  Jesus gave his own life to purchase your freedom. 

Jesus has taken all your sins away.  You are no longer a slave but a free person. Your physical body may be incarcerated here, but your soul and spirit have been set free.  Now begin to walk in the liberty that God has given you.  He has provided his spirit for you.  As you yield to this spirit, the freedom he has purchased for you becomes more evident in your life.  You no longer have to be a slave to habits, compulsions, addictions and greed that kept your life in slavery.  You can walk in freedom. 

You are his child, deeply loved.  He calls you righteous, pure and holy.  You are not scum or worthless.  How he loves you.  Trust in him.  You may fail daily but, he never fails.  He will continue the work he has begun in you until it is completed and you are walking in freedom and joy.

Yet now God in his gracious kindness declares us not guilty.

  He has done this through Christ Jesus, 

who has freed us by taking away our sins.

Romans 3:24 (NLT)