Seeking Him First: The Eyes, Ears and Face of the Lord

Saturday, April 13, 2013

The Eyes, Ears and Face of the Lord

I know when I reach out to the Lord in prayer, I want to be heard. I want God to see that I recognize my need for Him and my desire to cast my cares upon Him. I want Him to lift the heavy yoke of my burdens and replace it with His yoke which is light. I want Him to strengthen me, help me and uphold me with His righteous right hand. I want Him to respond with divine resources that only He can provide. I want Him to provide wisdom, clarity and direction as He aligns my thought with His.

1 Peter 3:12 says, 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. I need to have my thoughts, words and deeds on the path of His righteousness to be heard by Him. The verse that I use as the foundation for my writings—Matthew 6:33---says to seek first His Kingdom and His righteousness. If I want to unlock the vast storehouse of His blessings, I must seek righteousness that only comes from a right relationship with Him.

The flipside is when I do evil—when I sin—His face is turned against me. Not just His eyes and ears. God had to turn his face away from His only begotten Son as he bore the sin of the world because evil cannot co-exist with His goodness. This reminds me that I can’t allow unconfessed sin in my life if I want to experience His presence and the fullness of His blessing. The choice is mine.

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Your Identity in Christ

Once you’ve accepted Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, you have a new identity in Christ. You are a new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17). You are a child of God (Romans 8:16). You are forgiven (Colossians 1:13-14). You have true freedom (John 8:32). You have the promise of eternal life (John 3:16). You have been freed from the penalty of sin and death (Romans 8:2). You have the Holy Spirit within you to guide and comfort you (Acts 1:8). You are being transformed into the image of Christ (2 Corinthians 3:18). You have been called into God’s kingdom and glory (1 Thessalonians 2:12). You have been given a measure of faith to trust in Him (Romans 12:3). You have a Father who loves you so much that He didn't spare his own Son to save you (Romans 8:32). You can talk to God and be heard (1 John 4:14-15). You have a Father who is pleased to give you all things (Luke 12:32). You have the gift of God’s grace (Ephesians 2:8) which is always sufficient (2 Corinthians 12:9).You are given faith to overcome anything (Hebrews 11:1). You can never be separated from God’s love (Romans 8:38-39). You have healing and restoration (Jeremiah 30:17). You have God on your side who is greater than anyone who opposes you (Romans 8:31) and has plans for you that are good (Jeremiah 29:11). You have power over the enemy (Luke 10:19). You are more than a conqueror (Romans 8:37). You have deliverance from the power of darkness (Colossians 1:13). You have rest for when you are weary (Matthew 11:28). You will never be abandoned or forsaken (Deuteronomy 31:6). You have an undefiled inheritance in heaven (1 Peter 1:4). You have an eternal home that Christ himself is preparing for you (John 14:1-3). You are one with Christ (John 17:11). You can do all things through Him (Philippians 4:13). You have guidance and direction (Proverbs 3:5-6). You have peace that passes all understanding (Philippians 4:7). You walk by Faith and not by sight (2 Corinthians 5:7). You are being transformed by the renewing of you mind (Romans 12:2). You can cast all your worries and cares on Him (1 Peter 5:7) and He will sustain you (Psalm 55:22). You have renewed strength as you hope in Him (Isaiah 40:31). You are an imitator of Jesus (Ephesians 5:1). You are the Light of the World (Matthew 5:14). WOW!!!!!!