Locking our eyes on Jesus as he feeds us (Psalm 34)

 My weekly prayer partner Gloria sends a text every morning that awakens my soul. 

Good morning!!

   You, LORD, are my lamp; the LORD turns my darkness into light.

2 Samuel 22:29 NIV

  God, in His infinite wisdom, didn't just provide physical  light from the sun. He gave us the life-giving eternal Light of the World, His Son, Jesus. We are, reminded daily that Jesus is our true lamp. He turns our darkness into light.  Jesus loves you and so do I.

Every morning at work we have "SALT Praise and Encouragement" at Ameriprise. 

My friend Karo had this to say: 

I will bless the Lord at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth. ~Psalm 34:1 (NKJV)

and said, “Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven. ~Matthew 18:3 (NKJV)

But Jesus said, “Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of heaven.” ~Matthew 19:14 (NLT)

Praise / Encouragement:

Yesterday, Sylvia spoke about joy and being intentional about choosing joy. Today, I wanted to carry that a little further, but from a different angle, and maybe put a little different spin on the verses above. Earlier this week, a friend asked, “God is so much greater than us and all that we have is from Him, so how do we bless God?” That question made me think of something the Lord had been impressing upon me lately while spending time with my Grandson…

As many of us have probably experienced, when feeding a baby, the small child gazes into your eyes, and you can’t help but gaze back – and the staring contest ensues (Lol!). But, there is something so intimate and loving in that moment. For me, I never want it to end, and it fills me with such joy. Recently, the Lord lovingly asked me, why don’t you stare into my eyes like that. And I realized, of course He would want me to stare into His eyes (spiritually speaking) in the same way because He is a good, good Father. It not only builds intimacy, but it brings Him joy. It was a gentle reminder that the distractions of life can get in the way of that intimacy.

Likewise, when a small child smiles and/or giggles at you, it fills you with incredible delight. When their eyes light up and they are excited to see you, it makes you feel like you are the most important person in the room. It’s the same thing with our Heavenly Father. He is filled with such delight when we smile at Him, or when we get excited at the good gifts He gives us.

Therefore, I think one of the ways we bless God is when we intentionally look into His eyes to see things from His point of view, and when we are thankfully excited at all that He is doing for us and around us. So, our challenge today is to not just choose joy, but to choose joy like a small child playing and spending time with our wonderful Heavenly Father.

Worship:

https://youtu.be/BA5p7zeWPI0?si=E3sYwdg90FG2JiOW

Gonna Be A Lovely Day ~version by Kirk Franklin

Prayer:

Thank you, Lord, for today. Just one look at You, and we are filled with joy, and we know everything is going to be all right. You are so so good to us! Show us how to bless You through our thanksgiving and joy. Remind us to look into Your eyes, see things through Your perspective and smile coz it’s gonna be a lovely day. In the mighty name of King Jesus we pray this. Amen. 

Psalm 34

A psalm of David, regarding the time he pretended to be insane in front of Abimelech, who sent him away.

1 I will praise the Lord at all times.

    I will constantly speak his praises.

2 I will boast only in the Lord;

    let all who are helpless take heart.

3 Come, let us tell of the Lord’s greatness;

    let us exalt his name together.

4 I prayed to the Lord, and he answered me.

    He freed me from all my fears.

5 Those who look to him for help will be radiant with joy;

    no shadow of shame will darken their faces.

6 In my desperation I prayed, and the Lord listened;

    he saved me from all my troubles.

7 For the angel of the Lord is a guard;

    he surrounds and defends all who fear him.

8 Taste and see that the Lord is good.

    Oh, the joys of those who take refuge in him!

9 Fear the Lord, you his godly people,

    for those who fear him will have all they need.

10 Even strong young lions sometimes go hungry,

    but those who trust in the Lord will lack no good thing.

11 Come, my children, and listen to me,

    and I will teach you to fear the Lord.

12 Does anyone want to live a life

    that is long and prosperous?

13 Then keep your tongue from speaking evil

    and your lips from telling lies!

14 Turn away from evil and do good.

    Search for peace, and work to maintain it.

15 The eyes of the Lord watch over those who do right;

    his ears are open to their cries for help.

16 But the Lord turns his face against those who do evil;

    he will erase their memory from the earth.

17 The Lord hears his people when they call to him for help.

    He rescues them from all their troubles.

18 The Lord is close to the brokenhearted;

    he rescues those whose spirits are crushed.

19 The righteous person faces many troubles,

    but the Lord comes to the rescue each time.

20 For the Lord protects the bones of the righteous;

    not one of them is broken!

21 Calamity will surely destroy the wicked,

    and those who hate the righteous will be punished.

22 But the Lord will redeem those who serve him.

    No one who takes refuge in him will be condemned.