by David Brenneman
If He is able to place the stars in their sockets and suspend the sky like a curtain, do you think it remotely possible that God is able to guide your life? If your God is mighty enough to ignite the sun, could it be that He's mighty enough to light your path? If He cares enough about the planet Saturn to give it rings or Venus to make it sparkle, is there an outside chance He cares enough about you to meet your needs? Max Lucado
It could be rather easy to cave into worry and despair over what is seen in life if it were not for the many reminders from the Spirit of God about my life and His work in it.
The Spirit does remind us of our faith victories especially when we need that comfort in our current situation in life.
Satan's schemes include trying to overwhelm our senses and our thoughts in order to take our focus off of God and place it anywhere else but there.
Take a good look at Peter getting out of the boat and walking on the water. Yes, Jesus did indeed command him to come out to Him on the water. But the first steps of doing so he wasn't looking at Jesus yet. Your first part of this scene is grabbing ahold of the edge of the boat and then one at a time putting each foot outside of it. Then you probably notice that for reasons that you can't explain its solid under your feet. You might even be a bit wobbly standing fully erect. You are probably still looking from face to face at the rest still in the boat. You turn around and see Jesus and begin to take steps towards Him.
Then we catch up to that place in the Scriptures where he notices the turbulent waters more than Jesus standing in the midst of them. Peter begins to sink. Jesus reaches out and brings him back to the surface. They walk together back to the boat and get in.
Taking our eyes off Jesus, especially when a change of situation wants us to, will have an impact on our thoughts and actions.
Remembering the times and places when we needed to choose to keep our eyes on Jesus and what became of that is always right to be doing. Even when we aren't in a new heavy situation. We have a whole chapter in Hebrews that's referred to as the faith chapter for reminders on top of what we have personally experienced with Jesus.
Jesus keeps the whole universe running and at the same time runs to those of His who are in need.
Phillips, Craig and Dean had a song out called Mercy Came Running. Here's a portion of it.
Mercy came running
Like a prisoner set free
Past all my failures
To the point of my need
When the sin that I carried
Was all I could see
And when I could not reach mercy
Mercy came running to me
Jesus has His eyes on all in the universe at the same time. While He thinks of you, of everyone and everything around you, He is doing the same all over the Earth. He is omnipresent. He cannot ever not know all that is going on in our lives.
He is omniscient...He knows everyone's beginning from their end. He knows our thoughts from afar as the Bible says. He knew us when we were being put together in our Mother's womb.
He knew Peter would falter stepping out of the boat. He was right there to reach out to him to save him.
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego...Jesus indeed was the fourth man in the fire with them. Because they knew that whether or not God chose to save them, their next steps were going to be spent honoring God.
Daniel was framed and was caused to spend the night with a room full of lions who normally would have made short work of eating him. Jesus was there and they didn't harm him at all.
Our own experiences...of how my God has been doing great and mighty things in our lives.
You come to Christ you really do gain an interesting life.
I can go on about a great many situations where I didn't know how at all it was going to turn out. Situations that each one could probably be a short movie by themselves.
In fact I am writing a book about many of those memories of my Savior and Lord Jesus Christ's working in my life in extraordinary ways.
When Peter’s attention wasn't on the words of Jesus and his eyes weren't on Jesus, Peter had problems.
I don't know exactly how my employment situation is going to be resolved. I only know that Jesus already has it covered. Each day is another step of faith whereas I can't see the ground beneath my feet.
I know that it was a leap of faith that brought us to our new hometown. I know that my Savior knows that I did nothing wrong to be in the situation we are in. I know that I will continue to be in the Word each morning, writing whatever He puts in front of me to write. I know that I will continue in my evening studies in my devotionals and study Bibles. I know that I can do whatever He puts before me each day to be doing. I can do all things through God who strengthens me.
Scripture says that we walk by faith and not by sight. My eyes would probably put me in panic attacks if it weren't for my faith in Jesus.
The greatest memory I have goes back to 1974. If I can trust Jesus to save me from my sins and to cleanse me from all unrighteousness. If He is the forgiver of my sins and the leader of my life. Then He's got this present situation well in hand.
My Dear Reader...know for sure whether or not you are saved.
Then stand on it.
One of the greatest hymns ever written is "Standing on the Promises". Go from that hymn to "Praise Him! Praise Him!" and then to "Victory in Jesus".
"speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody with your heart to the Lord; always giving thanks for all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God, even the Father;" Ephesians 5:19-20.
Jesus is oh so much more involved in your life than you ever know in this present time.
All New American Standard Bible Scripture Excerpts used by permission. (C) 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by the Lockman Foundation. A corporation not for profit.
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