Tag: strong support

3.m. Behold, the eye of the LORD is on those who fear him, on those who hope in his steadfast love

Ezra 5:1  Now the prophets, Haggai and Zechariah the son of Iddo, prophesied to the Jews who were in Judah and Jerusalem, in the name of the God of Israel who was over them. Then Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel and Jeshua the son of Jozadak arose and began to rebuild the house of God that is in Jerusalem, and the prophets of God were with them, supporting them.

At the same time Tattenai the governor of the province Beyond the River and Shethar-bozenai and their associates came to them and spoke to them thus: “Who gave you a decree to build this house and to finish this structure?” They also asked them this: “What are the names of the men who are building this building?” But the eye of their God was on the elders of the Jews, and they did not stop them until the report should reach Darius and then an answer be returned by letter concerning it.

2 Chronicles 16:9   For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to give strong support to those whose heart is blameless toward him.

Psalms 32:8    I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my eye upon you.

Psalms 33:18    Behold, the eye of the LORD is on those who fear him, on those who hope in his steadfast love,

1 Peter 3:12   For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and his ears are open to their prayer. But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.”

Psalms 34:15  The eyes of the LORD are toward the righteous and his ears toward their cry.

There are always going to be those in opposition to the work, plans, and purposes of God.  They cry foul, make accusations, and try hard to stop this work.  God’s word is full of examples of men in opposition.  They only succeed when it is in God’s plan and for His purpose.  Sometimes it is for our testing so that we know what is in our heart.  Other times it is in God’s wrath to the fallen and deliberate hardened heart of those who choose to be neglectful and complacent in their walk with Him.

When we are faced with opposition let our eyes, ears, heart, mind, and soul be focused and trusting in God.  Praise and trust in His promises of steadfast love, power, strength, refuge, peace, and rest.  Philippians 4:12-13  I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need.  I can do all things through him who strengthens me.

We are never alone.  God’s eyes are always on us.

2.w. But you have not obeyed my voice. What is this you have done?

2 Chronicles 25:14  After Amaziah came from striking down the Edomites, he brought the gods of the men of Seir and set them up as his gods and worshiped them, making offerings to them. Therefore the Lord was angry with Amaziah and sent to him a prophet, who said to him, “Why have you sought the gods of a people who did not deliver their own people from your hand?” But as he was speaking, the king said to him, “Have we made you a royal counselor? Stop! Why should you be struck down?” So the prophet stopped, but said, “I know that God has determined to destroy you, because you have done this and have not listened to my counsel.”

2 Chronicles 16:9     For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to give strong support to those whose heart is blameless toward him. You have done foolishly in this, for from now on you will have wars.”

2 Chronicles 19:2    But Jehu the son of Hanani the seer went out to meet him and said to King Jehoshaphat, “Should you help the wicked and love those who hate the LORD? Because of this, wrath has gone out against you from the LORD.

Judges 2:2    and you shall make no covenant with the inhabitants of this land; you shall break down their altars.’ But you have not obeyed my voice. What is this you have done?

Psalms 96:5    For all the gods of the peoples are worthless idols, but the LORD made the heavens.

Jeremiah 2:5    Thus says the LORD: “What wrong did your fathers find in me that they went far from me, and went after worthlessness, and became worthless?

We can read these verses and say to ourself that clearly, we would not have done as these people did, where they abandoned God and did things and followed after things that were foolish and apart from God.  We don’t have to look very far into our thoughts and actions to know we too have the same tendencies, foolish ideas, lack of understanding, lack of wholehearted commitment.  We get pulled and pushed aside by the tidal waves of self-interest, self-satisfaction, and self-serving busyness into the ocean of neglect and complacent service to God.   

What changed in these people’s heart and mind that they so easily were drawn away?  Have you ever cleaned and organized your garage and made a commitment to keep it that way, only to have the same type of mess 4-6 months later?  You wonder how did it go from organized to mess?  It is not as though you didn’t know what cleaned and organized looked like. It is not as though you intended it to happen or planned to have it happen.  You did not set a commitment in your heart to make it happen, but yet it did. So what happened?

The commitment faded. The desire changed. The ability to see the change was lost.  Something else replaced that commitment.  It is not that we intentionally chose to make the garage a mess again but rather we chose not to keep it in order.  The same is true for humbly serving, honoring, following, trusting, and obeying God.  It is not that we intentionally chose to keep our heart from Him but rather we chose to give our heart and mind to ourself.  Keeping God first closes the door to self.  Being mindful of the internal tidal wave of “Self” wants, desires, plans, and thoughts is a good place to start to keep the garage of our heart, mind, and soul clean.  Being mindful of this requires us then to take appropriate measures to ensure they stay clean.  For the example; you could commit to truly looking at your garage every night before calling it a day.  You could commit to not allow yourself to go back inside until it was put back in order.  You could commit to never leave your garage when something was out of place.  You could take a picture of what organized looked like and then compare each area of organization against that picture to ensure you were not allowing yourself to drift.

You see the same is true with our commitment to humbly serving, honoring, following, trusting, and obeying Jesus Christ.  We don’t choose to make our lives a mess.  We choose not to keep them in line with God’s word.  Herein lies the problem.  This intentional choice to “Not” is going to yield every bit as bad results as if we have intentionally chosen to make our lives a mess.  The commitment must be firm.  Paul said “Stand Firm”. He also said to “take every thought captive.” And, to “put on the full armor of God”.

The picture we can compare our heart, mind, and soul garage too is the word of God.  If we commit to comparing every thought, word, and action against this then we will have eyes and ears sensitive to the leading of the Holy Spirit.  Do not allow drift in your life because you have been neglectful and complacent.  We have brothers and sisters in Christ that can help us see drift in our lives when we have no longer found time to spend in His word.  Each of us should commit to helping others in this struggle with self and point them always to the worthiness of Jesus Christ and the word of God.

178. O Lord, please open his eyes that he may see.

2 Kings 6:8  Once when the king of Syria was warring against Israel, he took counsel with his servants, saying, “At such and such a place shall be my camp.” But the man of God sent word to the king of Israel, “Beware that you do not pass this place, for the Syrians are going down there.” And the king of Israel sent to the place about which the man of God told him. Thus he used to warn him, so that he saved himself there more than once or twice.

And the mind of the king of Syria was greatly troubled because of this thing, and he called his servants and said to them, “Will you not show me who of us is for the king of Israel?” And one of his servants said, “None, my lord, O king; but Elisha, the prophet who is in Israel, tells the king of Israel the words that you speak in your bedroom.” And he said, “Go and see where he is, that I may send and seize him.” It was told him, “Behold, he is in Dothan.” So he sent there horses and chariots and a great army, and they came by night and surrounded the city.

When the servant of the man of God rose early in the morning and went out, behold, an army with horses and chariots was all around the city. And the servant said, “Alas, my master! What shall we do?” He said, “Do not be afraid, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them.” Then Elisha prayed and said, “O Lord, please open his eyes that he may see.” So the Lord opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw, and behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.

2 Chronicles 16:9    For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to give strong support to those whose heart is blameless toward him.

2 Chronicles 32:7-8    “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or dismayed before the king of Assyria and all the horde that is with him, for there are more with us than with him.  With him is an arm of flesh, but with us is the LORD our God, to help us and to fight our battles.” And the people took confidence from the words of Hezekiah king of Judah.

Isaiah 8:10    Take counsel together, but it will come to nothing; speak a word, but it will not stand, for God is with us.

Matthew 26:53    Do you think that I cannot appeal to my Father, and he will at once send me more than twelve legions of angels?

Romans 8:31    What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?

I am always intrigued when I read this account of Elisha and one of his servants when surrounded by the Syrian army. Two against a powerful army.  Elisha was so matter of fact.  “Do not be afraid for those who are with us are more than those who are with them.”  And then to add to this statement he prayed that the Lord would open his servant’s eyes so he should see those God had supplied.  “The mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.”  “If God is for us who can be against us?” “for God is with us”, “but with us is the LORD our God, to help us “.

Has God changed?  Is His protection ever far from us?  No God has not changed and He is never far from us.  He is always present.  So why does it feel like He is not close and not helping?  Is it because we are not close to Him?  Have we strayed from Him?  Have we come to love this world and what it has to offer more than humbly serving God and following and obeying Him?  Have we become blind in our faith and deaf to the knowledge of Him?  Are we like Elisha’s servant who says “what should we do”?

We stray from God when we neglect His word.  We stray away when living for Him has been replaced by so many other things that keep us busy thinking about everything but Him.  Busyness is not an excuse – it is a choice.  We can choose to be close to Him, honoring Him, serving Him, relying on Him, following Him, obeying Him, and trusting in Him – ALL OF THE TIME!!!  Not just when it is convenient or fits our schedule.

Choose to be close to Him, stay in His word each day, seek His leading, and listen for His direction.

How Awesome is this place!

Genesis 28:10  Jacob left Beersheba and went toward Haran. And he came to a certain place and stayed there that night, because the sun had set. Taking one of the stones of the place, he put it under his head and lay down in that place to sleep. And he dreamed, and behold, there was a ladder set up on the earth, and the top of it reached to heaven. And behold, the angels of God were ascending and descending on it! And behold, the Lord stood above it and said, “I am the Lord, the God of Abraham your father and the God of Isaac. The land on which you lie I will give to you and to your offspring. Your offspring shall be like the dust of the earth, and you shall spread abroad to the west and to the east and to the north and to the south, and in you and your offspring shall all the families of the earth be blessed. Behold, I am with you and will keep you wherever you go, and will bring you back to this land. For I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you.” Then Jacob awoke from his sleep and said, “Surely the Lord is in this place, and I did not know it.” And he was afraid and said, “How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven.”

Genesis 32:1-2     Jacob went on his way, and the angels of God met him.  And when Jacob saw them he said, “This is God’s camp!” So he called the name of that place Mahanaim.

2 Chronicles 16:9     For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to give strong support to those whose heart is blameless toward him. You have done foolishly in this, for from now on you will have wars.”

Isaiah 41:10    fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

  John 1:51    And he said to him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, you will see heaven opened, and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.”

2 Timothy 4:16-17     At my first defense no one came to stand by me, but all deserted me. May it not be charged against them!  But the Lord stood by me and strengthened me, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it. So I was rescued from the lion’s mouth.

Hebrews 1:14    Are they not all ministering spirits sent out to serve for the sake of those who are to inherit salvation?

“How awesome is this place!”  We don’t have to think very hard to understand what Jacob thought of his interaction with this dream.  He certainly had to be a foundation of belief in God and that God can speak to people through dreams.  He had to be receptive which means he had made a choice to want to hear from God.  He chose in his heart and mind and soul to be ready and want to be in the presence of God.  When he woke up he was afraid but he had presence of mind to know that this was special and from God.  “How awesome is this place!”

A heart, mind, and soul committed to God, seeking, God, desiring God, and wanting to honor, glorify, serve, follow and obey God will hear the whispers of God, see the confirm hand of God in the affairs of their life, and yes may even have dreams authored by God.  The promise of the Holy Spirit indwelling was given to all who repent and fully trust in the redemptive work of Jesus Christ.  The Holy Spirit was promised by Christ and was given to lead, direct, rebuke, make known, give wisdom and understanding, confirm, convict our heart in righteous living through His word.

We need to be mindful of our life and how it is being lived out.  Is the word of God constantly present in our heart and mind?   Are we so busy and void of His word in our daily lives that we quench even the slightest spark of the Holy Spirit working in our life not to mention the fire expected.  Are we so complacent we fail to see the Awesome! works of God each day?  Are we so busy that we neglect to meditate on the events of each day in light of His word?  Are we in a place of comfort and ease that we fail to see need of God in our daily life?

God is Awesome!  Every minute with Him is Awesome!  Every purpose and plan of His is Awesome! Every bit of wisdom and understanding given to us is Awesome!  His steadfast love for us is Awesome! His redemption, salvation, and forgiveness of sin through Christ is Awesome! His quiet whispers of leading is Awesome!. His Word is Awesome!  His promise of eternity is Awesome! His power is Awesome!  His peace, joy, rest, strength and courage is Awesome!  God is Awesome!!!!!

Keep your ears, eyes, heart, and mind open to see the Awesome power of God every minute of every day.  Never be so busy that you miss seeing God at work in your everyday lives.

“Maybe the reason most of us feel like we can’t hear from God and see His awesome work is we’re too busy talking! It’s so tempting to ask God to say what we want Him to say instead of just focusing on what He’s already said and how it applies in our lives. The next time you want to hear God’s voice, start by cracking open God’s Word,” Perry

I saw a bumper sticker that read; If you want to hear from God, read His word.  If you want to hear speak audibly, read out loud.