May 12th

May 12th  

How many times when we are in a jam or face hard things, do we look to things in this world for help? We wrestle with situations and try to come up with ways to figure out a solution to our problems. We look to the natural physical world for the answers because we focus on the natural part of the problem. All the while, the Lord is standing by waiting for us to look to Him for the answer. Look at David’s psalm about this very thing.

Psalm 121:1-3 I lift up my eyes to the mountains— where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth. He will not let your foot slip— he who watches over you will not slumber;

David didn’t look to the hills for the cavalry to come riding in, he looked to the MAKER of the hills. Our help will not come through the CAVALRY; it came through CALVARY. Jesus created the world and then came and died on calvary (the cross) for us. So our ultimate help came that way. But that was not the end, it was the beginning for us. Now our help still comes from Jesus, He holds the answers and solutions to everything we face. We should be looking to our God for the answers rather than the world around us. He has answers for everything, even practical things!

Of course we may not want to choose His plan because it may mean giving up our own ideas, but in the long run that is where our peace will come from. Sometimes I think we limit God to “spiritual” things and don’t think that He has a place in our practical circumstances. Nothing could be further from the truth. Read the gospels and look at how Jesus spent His time here. He DID minister spiritually, yes, but He always took time to meet physical needs and address physical issues. He fed the thousands that were hungry. He healed physical illnesses. But He also did things like pay taxes.

Matthew 17:27 Jesus said to him. “But so that we may not cause offense, go to the lake and throw out your line. Take the first fish you catch; open its mouth and you will find a four-drachma coin. Take it and give it to them for my tax and yours.”

So the next time you are facing a situation or circumstance that needs a solution, try looking to the Maker of the hills and ask Him to show you HIS way through it. God made us spiritual beings in a physical body, He has no intention of neglecting our physical needs or problems.

Matthew 6:30-33 If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

Jesus, thank you that you care about all of me. Thank you that you provide for my physical needs as well. Help me to be careful to stay surrendered to you so that I don’t interfere with your plan and provision. Help me to keep my eyes on you, not on my problems. Remind me to look to you for the answers, not the world around me. Forgive me for when I haven’t done that right. Thank you for your love, Your kingdom come and Your will be done here on earth in my life as it is in Heaven.