It’s been quite a while since I made my last post. To be perfectly honest, for many months I was distracted by personal hardships and stressful life transitions. Just as everything began to fall into place again I found myself distracted again. This time by an unrelenting need for information regarding the brisk changes affecting the safety, security, and future of our nation.
I was finding less and less time to be in God’s Word as I became more absorbed in news feeds. I had less time for quiet spiritual reflection and refreshment. Instead, I found my thought were being hijacked by fears of the future. Less time for fellowship because I felt too exhausted by life to make an effort. I wanted to get more connected yet I wasn’t taking any real steps to acheive it. I was disconnected, spiritually sinking in the rough waters of life. Times of crisis are when we realize our need for Jesus the most. How do I keep my eyes fixed on Jesus?
Every time I fall into this pattern I am reminded of Peter when he saw Jesus walking on water.
“Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.”
“Come,” he said.
Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me! Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?” Matthew 14:28-31
I am convicted everytime I read this story because I am just like Peter. When my faith is strong and my eyes are fixed on Jesus I am able to do what seems impossible. I experience joy in sadness, strength in my weakness, hope amidst hoplessness, confidence despite uncertainty. Yet during unrelenting storms, my fears pull my gaze and I begin to sink in my fear and uncertainty. Yet the most wonderful part of the story is when Peter cries out “save me!” and Jesus immediately reaches out to save him.
I have made mistakes and will continue to make mistakes. I will have times of doubt and fear, and there will be times when I stray. That’s what it is to be human. We are in a daily spiritual battle. But the beauty is that Jesus doesn’t abandon us.
Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Ephesians 6:11-13
How do I keep my eyes fixed on Jesus? It’s a daily choice I have to make to put on the
- the belt of TRUTH
- the breastplate or RIGHTEOUSNESS
- feet fit with the gospel of PEACE
- the sheild of FAITH
- the helmet of SALVATION, and
- the sword of the Spirit, GOD’S WORD Ephesians 6:14-17
Paul tells us in Ephesians how we can accomplish this:
Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Phillipians 4:6-8
In other words, don’t dwell on the negative or fear-provoking things of this world because God will have the final word. Instead, focus on the very nature of God. When we remember how great, powerful, and loving our God is, our fears begin to look small. In this spirit, I plan to start posting relevant scripture to help maintain a God based perspective as we navigate the path ahead as a nation.
Seek and You Will Find 
Like marriages have high highs and low lows, so does our relationship with Jesus. We are humans, and God understands. After going through a rough time in our relationship with God, we come to a different understanding of our relationship withi Him. He is always there to take us in His arms and say, “I love you wholly and unconditionally..
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Our focus should be on what is governing us from within. To discover this will require “silence in heaven,” symbolizing “quiet in the mind,” following Moses’ instruction:
“Fear ye not, stand still. and see the salvation of the Lord…” Exodus 14:13
The word still means to quiet self, be silent.
“I will have times of doubt and fear, and there will be times when I stray.”
Yes, this is part of the journey. The Bible takes place within us. The children of Israel were chosen to represent us the people, their journey revealing our journey through life. It was in the wilderness that they experienced “doubt and fear.” The wilderness is associated with the mind, where fear and doubt work. It also represents punishment, which we bring upon ourselves because of our spiritual disobedience.
“The six stations in the wilderness are representative of our six metaphorical days of spiritual works, which would have allowed them to enter into the Promised Land and take their rest. But they rebelled, journeying from the Red Sea to Shur,meaning to turn, travel about as a harlot or merchant, illustrating the inclination to sell ourselves on the same false images or beliefs we should be battling to overcome. They were sure that God had brought them into the wilderness to die. The unholy spirit that gave life to this lie was fear. With fear and doubt consuming their minds, they had nothing good to think; nothing good to drink for three days, representing the three thousand years that man has been separated from his spiritual essence of holy spirit and seed, which lay buried deep within his heart.” (excerpt; THE BIBLE DECODED: breaking the ancient code).
We must stop “robbing Peter to pay Paul.” Sayings become sayings for a reason. Paul misinterpreted what Peter said in Acts 2:38, and it is this misinterpretation that has prevented Christians from obtaining true salvation, which comes by following Jesus’ instruction:
“And Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That ye which have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.” Matthew 19:28
It is through this internal judgment that we received true salvation, which is a process, encoded in the 49th chapter of Genesis. Yes, keep our eyes on Jesus, not Paul.
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