by Tanya Linzey 

God In Focus


 

At the start of this New Year, my husband and pastor of our church presented a theme for our church entitled, “Applying God’s Word”. He presented it through a message about “Vision” using the verse in Proverbs 29:18 which says, “Where there is no vision , the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he. He then went on to explain that vision is beyond just us seeing but it involves hearing also.

Back in the Old Testament in the days of the prophets and in 1 Samuel 3;1 it says, ”The Word of God was precious in those days, there was no open vision (meaning no message or direction from God.) Putting the two thoughts together, it basically means that without God’s Word the people perish! 

  God’s Word is a lamp unto our feet and a light unto our path. (Psalms 119:105) In the New Testament and in 2 Peter 1:19 God tells us that “We have a more sure word of prophecy; which is the word of God: whereunto, ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts…”

  God’s Word tells us of God’s heart, and God’s heart tells of His love for us. God’s Word is sharing His heart with us. Isn’t that an amazing thought? God wants us to know Him in a deep way. The more we know God, the more we will see Him for who He truly is. Psalms 27:8 says,” When thou saidst , Seek ye my face; my heart said unto thee, Thy face Lord, will I seek.” We recognize people by their face primarily. But as we get to know people, we also develop relationships by talking “face to face”.

This verse is speaking of developing a deep relationship with the Lord and the heart’s longing to do that. 

  When you love someone deeply, you want to get to know them. It is who you think of and want to share things with. It is who you want to talk to. That person becomes a focus of a shared relationship. We can see this in girls when they have a “best friend”; or, when a man and woman fall in love and share that close intimacy that God designed for the marriage relationship. It is the same with the Lord. He is the friend that sticketh closer than a brother and the lover of our soul.

  God is also our guide in life teaching, nurturing, and growing us in His ways. In          2 Peter 1:5-6, he says “ And besides this, giving all diligence, add to your faith (where this whole relationship begins); virtue (moral goodness, modest purity); and to virtue, knowledge( an understanding in a deeper way); and to knowledge, temperance( self-control, one who masters desires and passions to be subject to that which is right) ; and to temperance , patience( steadfastness, endurance); and to  patience, godliness(respect and reverence of God and actions showing piety towards God); and to godliness, brotherly kindness (having a love with which Christians cherish each other as brothers and sisters); and to brotherly kindness, charity(that deep affectionate and benevolent giving love that is sacrificial and abiding in nature, a believing love that is good-willed and doesn’t fade away, abiding). The verse goes on to say “For if these things be in you and abound (to exist in abundance, to increase…) they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But he that lacketh these things is blind and cannot see afar off (his vision is marred or halted), and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins. Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure, for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall. For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ.”

  In Matthew 6:33, Jesus tells us that the Father knoweth that we have need of many things but not to focus on these needs but rather to focus on Seeking “first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things shall be added unto you.” 

  God wants to add blessings to our life that will allow for that abundant life in Christ and the knowledge of who He is.  God wants us to seek Him and to know Him! He never stops pursuing us and He desires for us to pursue Him also!

  In a devotional prayer journal a dear friend recently gave to me, it has a section on focusing on God for who He is. Just ponder as I remind you of David’s words in Psalms 86:8 as He adores our God saying,”...There is none like thee, O Lord, neither are there any works like unto thy works. All nations whom Thou hast made shall come and worship before Thee, O Lord; and shalt glorify thy name. For thou art great, and does wondrous things: thou art God alone. Teach me thy ways, O Lord my God, with all my heart: unite my heart to fear thy name. I will glorify thy name forevermore.” Who is this God?

   He is:

   Elohim: the only true God , the Alpha and Omega, the Creator and Sustainer of the universe 

  Our Redeemer: the One who took our sins upon himself and paid our debt to set us free.

  Our Comforter: He, thru His Holy Spirit, comforts, encourage, reassures and guides us thru” life and difficult times.

  Our Jehovah Jireh : He is outr provider in everyway. He is our source for everything we need.

  Jehovah Nissi: He is our banner, our safety, our refuge, our fortress, our protector and our shield.

 HE is :

   Our Rock:  He is olid, stable, reliable, eternal. He doesn’t change and can always be trusted and counted on. (“My hope is built on nothing less than Jesus blood and Righteousness. I dare not trust the sweetest frame but wholly lean on Jesus’ name. On Christ , the solid Rock I stand , all other hope is sinking sand!)

  Jehovah Roah: HE is the good Shepherd, who gives His life for the sheep. He feeds and cares for us, and carries us when we are hurt. He opposes the enemy. He is our defender.

 Our Saviour: He rescues us from harm, danger, or loss. He shields us from evil and offers us salvation despite our transgressions.

  Our El Shaddai: He is our all sufficient one, the one who Is enough, not lacking and has complete power over everything. And 

HE is The King Of Kings and Lord of Lords!

  In Psalms 18:30, we are reminded that “God, His way is perfect: the Word of the Lord is tried: He is a buckler to all those that trust in Him.” This is the Mighty God we serve!

  I love this song that I have sang a portion of to my children most every night since my oldest child was a babe. The chorus says, “Stayed upon Jehovah, hearts are fully blessed, finding as HE promised perfect peace and rest.”

 

 Where are you thoughts and meditations? Where is your focus? May it be stayed upon the One who knows us best and loves us most , Our precious Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ , our God Almighty! 

 

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