Matt Richards
2 Chronicles 20:12 O our God, will You not exercise judgment upon them? For we have no might to stand against this great company that is coming against us. We do not know what to do, but our eyes are upon You.
Israel, the people of God had not destroyed the people of Moab and Ammon because God told them not to.
Now the next generation, their children were coming back not to thank them, but to kill them. Seemed so unfair.
Ever had that experience? the very people that you showed kindness and mercy to are back with greater force not to thank you, but cause you harm.
When all this was kicking off, they went to seek the Lord with prayer and fasting.
(What a great thing to do.)
Then after fasting and prayer, they just gave it to the Lord. They said, 'we just don't know what to do; but our eyes are on you.'
I just love the but's of the bible.
(It's an an amazing study of its own.)
'We don't know what to do..BUT..'
'Our eyes are on You.'
You know when it all goes wrong. When people betray you. When you are threatened. When you need miraculous deliverance. When you don't know what to do. Make sure you have a but after it, but my eyes are on Jesus.
You see when we fix our eyes on Jesus,
when we shift our view to beholding Him, know that He will come through for us.
He will direct our steps, He will make a way of escape.
At times of crisis it's easy to focus our attention to the wrong things, to look at the problem, the media, our friends, politicians, science, or even ourselves.
But I encourage you at this testing time. No matter how defeated you feel, to look to the most important influence there is: look to Jesus.
When you have run out of options, when all seems lost, fix your eyes on Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith.
As the beautiful hymn puts it:
'Turn your eyes upon Jesus
Look full in His wonderful face
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim
In the light of His glory and grace
Turn your eyes upon Jesus
Look full in His wonderful face
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim
In the light of His glory and grace'
(Lemmel & Trotter)
Prayer:
Father I feel overwhelmed, surrounded. I need a miracle. Forgive me for focusing on the wrong things. I don't know what to do. But today I choose to turn my eyes to You. Thank You for help and deliverance in Jesus' name amen.
[O soul, are you weary and troubled?
No light in the darkness you see?
There’s light for a look at the Savior,
And life more abundant and free. Turn your eyes upon Jesus,
Look full in His wonderful face,
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim,
In the light of His glory and grace.
Through death into life everlasting
He passed, and we follow Him there;
O’er us sin no more hath dominion
For more than conqu’rors we are!
His Word shall not fail you, He promised;
Believe Him and all will be well;
Then go to a world that is dying,
His perfect salvation to tell!
Turn your eyes upon Jesus
Look full in His wonderful face
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim
In the light of His glory and grace
Turn your eyes upon Jesus
Look full in His wonderful face
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim
In the light of His glory and grace]