Keep Looking Out

Matthew 26: ⁴⁰ Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. “Couldn’t you men keep watch with me for one hour?” he asked Peter. ⁴¹ “Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.”

⁴² He went away a second time and prayed, “My Father, if it is not possible for this cup to be taken away unless I drink it, may your will be done.”

⁴³ When he came back, he again found them sleeping, because their eyes were heavy. ⁴⁴ So he left them and went away once more and prayed the third time, saying the same thing.

⁴⁵ Then he returned to the disciples and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and resting? Look, the hour has come, and the Son of Man is delivered into the hands of sinners. ⁴⁶ Rise! Let us go! Here comes my betrayer!”

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With squinted eyes I could not see the bus. “I have time” I said to myself, so I went into a shop to get whatever they were selling. I returned just as the bus zoomed past.

• Sometimes I drop my guard.
• Sometimes I stop looking out.
• Sometimes I get caught up in something else rather than focusing on what I am supposed to.

JESUS found HIS disciples sleeping when HE wanted them to be on the lookout, praying. My guess is that HE wanted to teach them a very important final lesson, but they were not ready to hear it so they slept and the moment passed.

• GOD wants me to live for HIM daily.
• GOD wants me to seek HIS face daily.
• GOD wants me to be on the lookout for HIS miracles daily.

Falling asleep is the equivalent of me drifting away from following GOD. When I close my eyes to wrong I drift into temptation. “The SPIRIT is willing but my flesh is weak” is what GOD says to me. Unless I stay in prayer, the world’s traps will get to me. GOD wants me awake.

• Are you asleep and cannot hear GOD?
• Are you trying to do things on your own power and are missing GOD’s miracles for you?
• Will you stop looking in the opposite direction and look for GOD to solve your problems?

It Will Happen Soon

Ezekiel 12: ²⁶ The word of the Lord came to me: ²⁷ “Son of man, the Israelites are saying, ‘The vision he sees is for many years from now, and he prophesies about the distant future.’

²⁸ “Therefore say to them, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: None of my words will be delayed any longer; whatever I say will be fulfilled, declares the Sovereign Lord.’”

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“Pack your bags and be in [insert some distant city] on Monday” were the words spoken to me is a hasty decision. It was Friday and in one moment my life changed by the decision of a company. There was no time to think, just move.

• Sometimes situations happen quickly.
• Sometimes life changes rapidly.
• Sometimes the unexpected pops up when I am not ready.

Complacency had me relax in my position. I thought I could be in one place forever. I usually put in a nice effort and was satisfied that I contributed value, but the change came unexpectedly. GOD does the same. Many situations, bad or good, happen rapidly. How can I be ready for them?

• GOD says to me “Take up your cross daily” meaning I need to pay attention to HIS salvation of me on a daily basis.
• GOD says to me “Pray without ceasing” meaning stay in continual communication with GOD because anything can happen quickly.
• GOD says to me “Put oil in your lamp” meaning be prepared for MY return at a moment’s notice.

Surprise is not in GOD’s vocabulary. HE knows what I am going to go through way before it happens, but I am blind to the timing and get surprised many times. Since I can’t go through life fearing the next moment, GOD wants me to seek peace by paying attention to HIM as often as I can. HE says “MY yoke is easy and MY burden is light.”

Instead of constantly thinking on disaster, I can think about GOD. Whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. I can find peace knowing anything can happen.

• Are you worried?
• Are many thoughts flooding your mind?
• Can you relax for a moment and allow GOD to provide you with comfort?
• Will you let HIS timing happen while you sit back and relax?

Refining Process

Job 23: ⁹ When he is at work in the north, I do not see him;
    when he turns to the south, I catch no glimpse of him.
¹⁰ But he knows the way that I take;
    when he has tested me, I will come forth as gold.

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Even when I don’t see GOD, HE is at work. I mean sometimes I can clearly see HIS hand on me. Like that time when I slid in front of the bus just before it began moving and it stopped. Or the time when I hit a huge puddle of water and the car spun sideways on the expressway and no one hit me. But what about the times I don’t see HIM?

• Sometimes I can’t see what GOD is doing in my life.
• Sometimes I wonder if GOD is even there.
• Sometimes I think GOD has moved on and is helping someone else who has more needs.

When I pray and don’t get my wish in minutes I cry like a baby, but what if I have been praying for years? I mean certainly GOD has ears doesn’t HE? What if HE told me to do something and that something seems endless?

• GOD says to me “I will fortify your steps.”
• GOD says to me “Keep going for I am with you.”
• GOD says to me “Pray without ceasing and I will make you strong.”

My strength comes from GOD not the item I yearn for. HE walks with me day by day, step by step. HE is loving as HE tests me with fire and refines me to shine like gold. HE is the one who I can trust.

• Are you going through the fire?
• Have you been waiting for years for deliverance?
• Can you take off your blinders and recognize what GOD “IS” doing in your life?
• Will you tell someone about GOD today?