Happy Monday. Whether you bounded out of bed or were slowly resurrected, make it a good day.
I love to think of the many vacations that my husband and I enjoyed through the years, especially one of our last in August 2000. We took a Mediterranean cruise, and at the end of which we spent a week in Lucerne, Switzerland. As we checked into our hotel, situated on a mountain overlooking Lake Lucerne, we were told that the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra would be performing that week. Excitedly, we purchased tickets.
The evening arrived, and as we entered the concert hall, anticipating what was ahead, we were greeted with chaos and confusion. We heard foreign languages being spoken around us, and from the stage we heard fiddling, strumming, tooting, and clanging! Soon, the noise abated, and complete silence came as all eyes were on one lone figure as he entered the stage. He approached the podium and raised his baton. The former chaos faded, and during the next hour, as the orchestra watched the conductor carefully, we heard beautiful melodies and peaceful harmonies.
In II Chronicles 20 is the story of a time when Judah had a situation of great confusion. Under King Jehoshaphat, they were filled with fear at the impending attack by the Ammonites, Moabites, and other “Ites.” The king pleaded with God, “We have no might against the enemy. We don’t know what to do! But our eyes are upon you!”
Once the people got their focus right, stillness and calm came, and fear left. They began to praise and worship. When they lifted their voices in song, victory followed! The enemies were defeated.
There have been times I felt much like those people of Judah. Situations brought confusion, fear, and defeat. Then, I refocused by not looking at the circumstances, and it was then when I saw clearly the God of my circumstances. Nothing changed, yet everything changed.
I Corinthians 14:33 tells us that God is not the author of confusion. Instead, the father of lies, the accuser, is. Where is our focus today? On a recent diagnosis? A rejection? Finances? A loss? On and on we could go. These are too mighty for us. What must we do?
We must look in the right direction. Our eyes and our focus must be pointed toward the right Person. To “play” our life’s instruments successfully, we must keep our eyes on our “Conductor.”
“Don’t expect to see a sunrise if you are looking into the west.” –Japanese proverb
Corrie Ten Boom, the famous author who survived years in a World War II Nazi death camp, after suffering inhumane treatment and torture said this:
“If you look at the world, you’ll be distressed.
If you look within, you’ll be depressed.
If you look at God, you’ll be at rest.”
As Helen Lemmel wrote:
“Turn your eyes upon Jesus,
Look full in His wonderful face;
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim
In the light of His glory and grace.”
by Beverly Hyles
From the Mondays with Beverly blog. Reprinted with permission.
