“Turn your eyes upon Jesus, look full in His wonderful face…” Do you ever take a moment on a beautiful afternoon and pause to think a bit about how you spend your time? When I do, I wonder if I have truly turned, as the lyrics by Helen H. Lemmel encourage, my eyes upon Jesus?
It is one of my favorite hymns. “O soul, are you weary and troubled? No light in the darkness you see? There’s light for a look at the Savior, And life more abundant and free!” But sometimes the things of earth aren’t strangely dim for us. Sometimes anger, sadness, pettiness, helplessness and an abundance of other feelings creep up on us.
And yes, we know the light is there. We may even know that the more we turn towards that light, the more it sets us free. So, what is our problem? Do we not desire God’s blessings? Do we not desire to be set free from the cares and worries of this world?
Psalm 1:1-2 says, “Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers, but whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates on his law, day and night.” Did I hear that right? Meditates on his law DAY and NIGHT?
Maybe those of you reading this are getting it right and always keep your eyes on The Lord, meditating on His Word and Laws both day and night. Me, I’m still striving for perfection. In those moments when the actions of others disappoint and even hurt me, I must stop for a minute and recognize that my feelings are real. They are a part of who I am. But they do not control who I am. So, whether I’m feeling sad or mad or any other way, I know if I do turn my eyes upon Jesus, I can control how I react to those feelings and I am free to live in the joy and peace that only He can provide.
So, when any of us turn our eyes away from Jesus, looking in the wrong direction, let us as brothers and sisters in the family of Christ at Faith help each other to keep our focus on The Lord, Most High. May it be so, that “the things of earth will grow strangely dim, in the light of his glory and grace” for each of us.
Blessings,
Pastor Peggy