It’s Friday…He Gave Us Eyes For His Glory

In Psalm 71 we read that the Psalmist was in a ‘pickle,’ a crisis really. He needs rescuing. We don’t know the exact ‘hiccup’ he was experiencing, and it really doesn’t matter. What we do know is how he responded. Though he has enemies who conspire against him, he knows where to find help. And his problem leads him to do the most important thing, praise. It’s pretty remarkable.

“As for me, I will always have hope; I will praise you more and more.” (Psalm 71:14)

Do you know that God is looking for those who will worship Him in spirit and in truth – as Jesus says in John 4:23 – but also in crisis? He seeks those who can look beyond the clouds that threaten and hover over them and who instead look to His radiance that thoroughly surrounds them. When He finds them, He blesses them.

That’s a difficult reality for most believers to learn. Our natural reaction when things are tough is to flee, or to beg for relief. And we have plenty of biblical examples; asking God for deliverance is thoroughly recommended throughout the Bible. But is there panic in the asking? Our weak souls are easily unnerved, but there’s a better pose: We can praise God, knowing that when we call, He will answer. Sure, He may not answer exactly the way we expect – though often He does – but He will always answer, and His answer will be good and for our good. We can count on that. Those who know this to be true of God will pray for deliverance not in a panic, but in rock-solid-trust. God will save. It’s His nature.

The truth is, God has not given us a spirit of fear (2 Timothy 1:7), and He has commanded us to be anxious for nothing (Philippians 4:6). The Apostle who penned those instructions would know. He went through all sorts of crisis, and always found God faithful. He was able to sing praises from the depths of a dark, dark place. So can we.

The God who created us in His image went to great lengths to redeem us and call us His children. He did not intend for us to live in anxiety, wondering where each new threat will drive us. He Gave Us Eyes For His Glory; we are to see Him in every circumstance. After all, seeing the victory beyond the crisis of the moment is what our faith is all about. What do you say, let’s keep our heads up and keep looking to Him no matter what.

Have a beautiful weekend. Make it better by worshiping The Lord with those who see life through His lens because they know His view is more real and rewarding than their own. It always is.

All For Jesus – Nothing More, Nothing Less, Nothing Else.

“He who is the blessed and only Sovereign, The King of kings and Lord of lords, who alone has immortality, who dwells in unapproachable light, whom no one has ever seen or can see, to Him be honor and eternal dominion. Amen.” (1 Timothy 6:15b-16)