Wednesday, February 24, 2016

God is Watching Us . . . to Guide Us

I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will guide you with My eye.
Psalms 32:8 

What parent who loves their children would allow them to play in busy street without their watchful eye to protect them?  God comes to guide us away from the streets that are too dangerous for us to be playing in.  He has a watchful eye upon us all.
The “eye of God" speaks of His providential watchcare over us.  He instructs us so that we will understand His ways and pay attention to where we are walking.  He teaches us so as to point us in the right direction as we journey in the paths of life.
I find it interesting that the word "teach" in the verse for today refers to two things: 
The first is an arrow pointed toward a target; the second is a finger pointing in the same direction.  The arrow is guided by the archer and it is the fingers that let the arrow go from the string so as to cast and direct it to a certain point. 
It is God's careful eye of watching over us that centers in on the target of our being conformed to the image of Christ.  That is His guided aim in all our lives.  Some may arrive early and some late.  Some will come from one direction and others from another.  But it is God's watching us that will ultimately guide us to His fulfilled destination of being like Christ.  
Part of God’s plan for us is that as we are faithful with the little we will gain more.  If we are faithful in following the will God has already revealed, He will reveal more.  He wants our obedience to His guidance.  The Bible is one way God gives us direction.  It gives us information for our relationship with Him and with others.  It also tells us how we should treat our enemies, to watch our attitudes, and how we can live our lives to glorify Him.
God expects us to use the minds He has given us too.  He will guide us, but He wants us to walk in faith and use common sense.  He has given us common sense for a reason!  God also will not reveal more to us than we need to know.  This is another place where faith steps in.  We must follow His guidance and trust Him for the unknown down the road.
Listen to the Psalmist as he speaks of God's watchful intimacy with us so as to guide us.
Psalms 139:1-5 O LORD, You have searched me and known me.  You know my sitting down and my rising up; you understand my thought afar off. You comprehend my path and my lying down, and are acquainted with all my ways.  For there is not a word on my tongue, but behold, O LORD, You know it altogether. You have hedged me behind and before, and laid your hand upon me.
God watches over our going to bed and our getting out of bed.  He knows the very word that is on the tip of our tongues about to spill out of our mouths.  And He understands His children!  His watchfulness over your life and mine causes Him to hedge us in from the front and the back.  In other words His hand is upon me to guide me to bring me into His stronghold.
For I know the plans I have for you,” declared the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Jeremiah 29:11
Like so many parents, I believe He is grieved when His children will not heed His guidance.  He loves us too much to take his eyes off of us.  God is watching us!
Scripture to Claim:

For You are my rock and my fortress; for Your name's sake You will lead me and guide me.  Psalms 31:3 

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