Topic: LOOKING UP? – By Dr. Jeff Schreve - From His Heart 14 JANUARY 2023

Topic: LOOKING UP? – By Dr. Jeff Schreve – From His Heart 14 JANUARY 2023

LOOKING UP?

When I was a kid, my older brother let me ride his mini-bike. He gave me a quick course on how to operate the bike: how to let out the clutch and give it gas at the same time, how to break and how to steer. He strapped on my helmet, and told me to give it a shot. Fearful and nervous, I mistakenly had my eyes fixed on the front tire, and, as a result, I proceeded to crash into the wall. UGH! In all my brother’s instructions, he did not mention where to focus. He took it for granted I would be looking up, not down.

IT’S ALL ABOUT FOCUS

In the Christian life, focus is everything. Hebrews 12:1-2 exhorts us to “run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith.” The only way to run the race successfully is to FIX your eyes on the Lord and keep them there.

Peter was the only disciple who walked on water. By faith he got out of the boat and took a few steps on the stormy Sea of Galilee. No doubt, it was exhilarating and wonderful. He would have been able to take quite a stroll except for this one problem: “But when he saw the strong wind and the waves, he was terrified and started to sink” (Matthew 14:30). Question: Why the sinking spell? Answer: He took his eyes off Jesus.

Where are your eyes today? Are they focused on your problems, or are they focused on the problem solver, the Lord Jesus Christ? Do you see the strong winds and tumultuous waves of your stormy sea OR do you see Jesus, the loving, all-powerful God who is King over every wave of problem and wind of difficulty.

PRAYING THE RIGHT PRAYER

I love the story in 2 Chronicles 20. King Jehoshaphat and the people of Judah are facing a fierce and ruthless army. Judah is grossly outnumbered. Death and destruction seem unavoidable. The situation seems hopeless. In the midst of this stormy sea of enemy invaders, Jehoshaphat prays a great pray of faith in 2 Chronicles 20:12:

“O our God, will You not judge them? For we are powerless before this great multitude who are coming against us; nor do we know what to do, but our eyes are on You.”

What do you do when you don’t know what to do? What do you do when it looks like your goose is cooked? What do you do when the winds blow and the waves threaten to take you under? YOU FIX YOUR EYES ON JESUS AND LEAVE THEM THERE!

Jesus is able in any situation. He is the God in whom nothing is impossible. He is the One who miraculously defeated that great army of enemies and turned Jehoshaphat’s seemingly hopeless situation into the Hallelujah Chorus. And He can do the same for you!

Where are you looking today? Look to Jesus!

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