Pastor Bob’s Blog

Does this sound like you? Something’s gone wrong. Terribly wrong. Maybe sickness has hit your body. Or maybe the bills have been piling up while the money has been leaking away. Or maybe hurt and strife have hit your family in a big way. And all you can do is think about the problem. It looms like a big monster in front of your eyes.

David had days like that. While he experienced the zenith of fellowship with the Lord, he also slipped into the depths of despair. Even his own son wanted to hunt him down, take his throne, and kill him. Here’s what David said, and it’s recorded in Psalm 121:1-2 (NKJV):

I will lift up my eyes to the hills— From whence comes my help? My help comes from the LORD, Who made heaven and earth. He will not allow your foot to be moved; He who keeps you will not slumber.

Here’s what David is telling us – or really what our Heavenly Father is telling us through David. Stop looking down. Stop putting all the focus on the problem. There isn’t a lot you can do by yourself anyway.

Just think about taking a walk. If you spend all your time looking down at your shoes, you won’t see what’s in the distance in front of you. All you’ll see is your shoe leather and the pavement right in front of you. You’ll miss seeing how the path ahead of you is bending. You’ll miss the beauty of the sunrise, and the scenery around you.

What would happen if you lifted up your eyes. Start looking up at the LORD, the same one who made heaven and earth. If He can put a complex planet together in a complex solar system in a complex galaxy in a complex universe, if He can make a human being in all our complexity, then He can take care of what looks like a mountain of trouble in your life.

Look up. Search His promises in the Bible. Spend some time worshiping. Get quiet and pray, just you and Him all alone. While you’re with Him, He’ll invite you to cast your care over on Him and carry it for you. He’ll show you the way out. Before you know it, what looked so big will begin to shrink in comparison to how awesome He is, and how faithful He is to perform His promises.

Look up! Remember – He loves you! And unlike any person you’ve ever known, He will always be faithful to His Word.

Look up!!

In chapter 13 of the gospel according to Mark, Jesus instructs disciples of all generations about the signs of His return.  In Mark 13:33, after describing the signs, He winds it all down to this:  ”Take heed, watch and pray; for you do not know when the time is.”

Why did He tell us to watch?  For at least two reasons.

First, Jesus wants us to watch so we will see and know the signs of the times.  We’re now seeing signs of what He referred to as the “beginnings of sorrows” in Mark 13:8 and Matthew 24:8: wars and rumors of wars, nations and kingdoms rising against each other, earthquakes, famines, and troubles.  The beginnings of sorrows will usher in a string of prophetic events culminating in Jesus’ return.

Disciples of Jesus should not be surprised by His return.  We’re supposed to watch so we will see.  In Matthew 24:37, Jesus says the coming of the Son of Man will be like the days of Noah.  How is that significant?  Noah knew a flood was coming.  No one else even knew what a flood was.  But Noah knew because the Lord told him, and Noah prepared – despite the ridicule of his family and neighbors.  If Noah knew, so will we even as the rest of the world sits in darkness!

In fact, in 1 Thessalonians 5:2, the Apostle Paul by the Holy Spirit tells us that the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night.  But in verses 4-5 he tells us that day won’t overtake us as a thief because we are not in darkness, but are children of light.

We should not be surprised! In John 16:13, Jesus announces that when the Holy Spirit comes He will reveal things to come!  Every Spirit-filled believer should be turning inwardly to see what the Holy Spirit is revealing.

Why should we watch?  So we’ll see and recognize the signs of the times.

There’s a second reason for us to watch.  Jesus told us to watch – and pray! We must watch so we’re thoroughly equipped to pray to the Father, in the Name of Jesus, effectively and with great precision.

If we as members of the Body of Christ step up, keep our eyes open, and pray with power in these days, great things will happen in the earth.  Will you take your place?  Will you watch and pray?