To you I lift up my eyes

 To you I lift up my eyes, O you who are enthroned in the heavens! Behold, as the eyes of servants look to the hand of their master, as the eyes of a maidservant to the hand of her mistress, so our eyes look to the LORD our God, till he has mercy upon us. Psalm 123:1,2 ESV

I love the visual I get from these verses.

A servant looking to his master for mercy, for approval, for acceptance. Looking up in humility, knowing his status before the master. This is how we should visualize ourselves as we go before God in prayer. Kneeling, looking up as a child looks to a parent for answers and sustenance.

We should be humbled in the presence of God's magnificence. Humbled, yet knowing we are dearly loved by the one that created us and all that He has given to us. We serve an awesome God.

If you ever doubt His love remember what Jesus said, And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself." John 12:32 ESV Jesus was describing the kind of death He would die. It is through the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross that God has drawn all people to Himself. That amazing act of love brings us to our knees.

So today, lift up your eyes toward heaven. Lift up your eyes to the cross and see a God that truly loves you. He loves you in spite of all that you aren't, he loves you because He created you in His image. He wants to give good things to you. He wants to hear all your cares. He wants to hear your thankfulness.

Humble yourself before Him in prayer today.

© 2012 Leo J. Woodman

Save us Lord we are perishing

And behold, there arose a great storm on the sea, so that the boat was being swamped by the waves; but he was asleep. And they went and woke him, saying, "Save us, Lord; we are perishing." And he said to them, "Why are you afraid, O you of little faith?" Then he rose and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm. Matthew 8:24-26 ESV

I thought of this passage yesterday when the hurricane was approaching. I wondered how many people were praying in this manner yesterday and yet had not chosen to speak to the Lord at all the day before.

Looking at the passage above we see Jesus disciples panic when the weather changed suddenly. They want to be saved, but prior to that they had smooth sailing and hadn't engaged the Lord. They were doing their thing and the Lord was doing His. But, when things got rough they decided to go to Him.

When they cried for help the Lord responded and handled the situation. Before doing that, He asked them “why are you afraid, O you of little faith?” Why is it that we Christians respond to the storms of life the same way the Apostles did? Because we like them, aren't truly trusting in the one that controls everything. We see circumstances and panic rather than trust in the Lord to see us through.

If you prayed like this yesterday as the storm approached, learn from this passage and trust in the Lord to see you through. Have faith, pray with confidence that the Lord is in control and trust yourself in His hands.

Remember whether it be stormy weather or the storms of life our Lord is in charge. Every storm ends and the sun will shine again. Engage the Lord every day, go to Him before panic sets in.

© Leo J. Woodman