Where Do You Look?

In that day you looked to the weapons of the House of the Forest, and you saw that the breaches of the city of David were many. You collected the waters of the lower pool, and you counted the houses of Jerusalem, and you broke down the houses to fortify the wall. You made a reservoir between the two walls for the water of the old pool. But you did not look to him who did it, or see him who planned it long ago. 
Isaiah 22:8b-11   


In the passage above, God's people were facing the enemy. As the enemy drew near, as hardships mounted, they did what seemed wise and strategic from the worlds perspective: They, on their own power and wisdom worked hard to defend against the enemy. We often do the very same thing. In other words, when hardship begins to loom on the horizon of life, we often start by desperately taking inventory of what we can, in our own power, throw at it. Why do we  so often do this? I would humbly submit that it is because of our fleshly desire to be our own god. We have a fierce desire to build our own kingdoms. As a result, whenever our own kingdoms we have worked so hard to build face a threat, it becomes a threat to our very identity. What do I mean? Isaiah, in chapter 17 said, "You have forgotten the God of your salvation, and have not remembered the Rock of your refuge." Meaning, God was no longer the center of their lives. He was no longer what their identity was hidden in. They pursued their own kingdom, not God's kingdom. They, with their own efforts, built their own lives around things that never mattered. In light of their rebellion, as the kingdom they created came tumbling down, the first thing they did was to desperately try and preserve it. In the midst of all their effort, and strategic planning, and fortifying, the heart of our glorious Father is heard. "But you did not look to him who did it, or see him planned it long ago." How often do I hear those words from the Lord? The words from a Father who's heart is breaking for His children who He longs to come through for. You see, our Father wants you and I, in the midst of the attack from the enemy, or hardships of life, to not first desperately try and work up a solution, but instead come to Him first. To cry out to Him. To talk to Him. To be honest about where we are at, and to repent of our forgetful hearts, and confess that we need Him. So for you, where is it you are looking presently? Is it to the author and finisher of your faith. Is it to our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus the Lord? Perhaps you need to pause, and remember the mighty deeds of a wonderful God who's desire is to be your provision, your protection, the God of your salvation, and the Rock of your strength! 


Look to Jesus today!

Take Heed not to Forget

"For you have forgotten the God of your salvation and have not remembered the Rock of your refuge; therefore you plant pleasant plants and sow the vine branch of a stranger, though you make them grow on the day that you plant them, and make them blossom in the morning that you sow, yet the harvest will flee away in a day of grief and incurable pain."  Isaiah 17:10,11

We live in a time and culture in which everything is made available "on demand." We don't have to wait for anything anymore. Even if we have to wait more then two or three minutes in a drive through fast food line, we begin to get irritated and begin thinking, "I thought this was supposed to be fast food!" One of the terrible ramifications of living in an "on demand" world, is that we lose patience. Patience in what? In most everything, but most importantly, many lose patience in God. You see, the children of God being addressed in the verses above, had, over time, lost patience in God. They knew God's promises of a Messiah, but over time they lost patience and trust. The end result? They began to simply forget about God, and as they did, they replaced Him with something that their own hands created. At the start, the things they were doing to speed up the process by entering into alliances with other nations, and trusting in their own wisdom and timing of things seemed to produce something that was fruitful. But it didn't last, and ultimately resulted in their being taken captive.
Like them, we can do the same thing. In other words, we lose patience and trust in God, and so we begin to forget about Him. His promises. His provision. His Word. The only other alternative to that, is to simply begin to cultivate our own "gardens" by planting strange plants, and using the tools at our disposal to provide for ourselves. Sound familiar? Maybe you are reaping right now, the fruit of your own labor, and lack of patience and trust in God. If so, then what next?
It's very simple: Remember the Lord. What do I mean? To remember means that you are going to have to turn away from what you are doing in order to focus on Him. Repentance is the answer. God desires for you to simply drop the tools you have been desperately using to cultivate your own life, and reach forward as Paul would put it, for the prize. Hold onto the Lord. As you do, you'll be reminded of how great He is. How powerful his love is. How freeing His grace is. And how humbling His sacrifice was. You see, God is not interested in a drive-through Christian life for you. He desires to cultivate not instant success, but character in Him that is brought about by a process that takes time. The Lord is calling out for His people to remember Him. To remember that He is in control, and in charge, not us. Perhaps we all need to hear this. To remember the Lord, to trust in Him, to allow God to cultivate in us patience, and character.
Take time to mediate on the Lord and His wonderful Word today. You'll find He's exactly what you've been looking for!

Blessings in Jesus name.