Lift Up Your Eyes
I really didn’t know what to do, but felt I needed to do something. Every couple of weeks I find myself in this dilemma. I enter a heathen shrine and wonder if I should I be there. The atmosphere reeks of incense. An offering of fruit wastes away beneath a golden idol. Adding to it all is a huge language barrier. I’m not in a foreign country but understand little of what is said here. This is where a sweet Vietnamese lady does my nails.
I would love to share Truth with her while I sit in her chair, but it’s an impossible task. I’m often frustrated and indulge in self-inflicted condemnation. I feel responsible for her soul. How can I share the truth of the Gospel when neither understands the other? Plagued with guilt every time I walk to my car, I’m concerned her eternal destiny is in my hands. But is it?
I looked up asking the Lord to show me a way. His gentle assurance flooded my heart. Just pray. So now when she files my nails, I use the time to pray for her. I am not the junior Holy Spirit. I can do my part by smiling and tipping well, but only He can draw her to Himself.
One day she handed me a study guide. She was preparing to become a U.S. citizen and needed help studying. It was very challenging. But as I drilled her on the content, we finally had some meaningful interaction. It helped being able to match her broken English to the sheet in front of me. She knew her stuff and I wondered how well I’d do on such a test. Weeks later, I celebrated with her. She passed her exam and was an American citizen at last. I brought her flowers and gave her a hug. I keep praying, too.
Why do we stumble under heavy burdens we were not meant to carry? The government is on His shoulders, not ours. While I am limited to open her eyes, all things are possible with God. My part is to keep my eyes on Him. Love her. Be kind. And pray. He will do the rest.
Scripture Reading:
2 Chronicles 20:12 We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you.
Psalm 25:15 My eyes are ever on the Lord for only he will release my feet from the snare.
Psalm 121:1 I lift up my eyes to the hills–where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.
Psalm 123:1-2 I lift up my eyes to you, to you whose throne is in heaven. As the eyes of slaves look to the hand of their master, as the eyes of a maid look to the hand of her mistress, so our eyes look to the Lord our God till he shows us his mercy.
2 Peter 3:9 The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.
Questions to Consider:
1. Where can you apply 2 Chronicles 20:12 to your life today?
2. What snares can you identify in your life? In others?
3. Share a time lifting your eyes brought you the help you needed.
4. What stands out to you in Psalm 123:1-2?
5. What is God’s will for the lost?
Summary:
We want to be a shining light but often feel like a failure. I’ve known people who constantly quote scripture in the work place. Their good intentions are often met with contempt. While it’s important to share what Jesus has done for us, it’s also vital to radiate His love in every encounter. Never take kindness and generosity for granted. Never underestimate the power of prayer. The Lord wants us to depend on Him. Not our own efforts. When you don’t know what to do, lift up your eyes to the Maker of heaven and earth. That’s where your help comes from.
I loved the story of not knowing the language and being able to chat with people and the praying for her was all that GOD wanted you to do at the time – GOD is always with us and when we ask HIM to show us what to do in a situation or a problem – HE is always looking over our shoulder or sending an Angel to guide us in the way HE wanted us to do. I find in my life that if I do not wait on the LORD – then I will just mess everything up and by waiting on the LORD – it always turns out just great and in the right way. Karen – you were able to lead the precious woman and I am sure she could see the LORD in your life. I find that when my eyes drift from the LORD – that is when I get myself in trouble. We need to be watching at all times. I love it when the LORD does pick us up and put us on the right road to walk – HE does it so much of the time. We try to do things in our own way and that is not the correct way to do things – always be leaded by the LORD. Many times in my life the LORD when Louis was very sick – the LORD was always giving me a song and leading me in the right pathway. Also in raising two lovely daughters – many times I just had to rely on the LORD in all things – Trust in the LORD – do according to HIS will and not ours. I have found the GOD is always with us in the worst time of our lives. The LORD is always there just in time in our lives – HE does not want us to suffer very long and HE wants everyone come to repentance and serve HIM with their whole life. All of us want to help others in their walk with the LORD and be a great servant of the LORD in front of them. We want to live our lives so that others can see how precious it is to serve the LORD with every part of our lives. Thanks – Karen – great lesson on Prayer again. Love the lessons very much – GOD is so good.
I want to share the last six months has really brought me to looking to the Lord for answers I couldn’t and didn’t know! From the birth of our 7th grandchild (a granddaughter) to the sell, move, hospitalization of my mother, and then to her long term care at a facility we said she would NEVER go! BUT God’s plans and purposes are for His glory and our good! God was faithful to answer prayers, give us peace, and knowledge in all situations. I need His strength for each day and I am thankful I can come to Him with anything and everything that comes my way today and in the future. THANKFUL!!!