I love this very first sentence in Jesus Today (Experience Hope Through His Presence), the devotional by Sarah Young: Gaze at Me; Glance at problems – This is the secret of living victoriously.

Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Hebrews 12:2.

We fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. 2 Corinthians 4:18.

I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you and watch over you. Psalm 32:8.

How do we keep our gaze on God? Our problems can loom so large we can become overwhelmed trying to control every possibility. What does our chapter today say? The Spirit of God…(2 Chronicles 15:1…)…If you seek him, he will be found by you, but if you forsake him, he will forsake you. For a long time Israel was without the true God, without a priest to teach and without the law. But in their distress they turned to the Lord, the God of Israel, and sought him, and he was found by them. v. 1-4.

The Spirit of God. God isn’t the One who leaves – we are. And then we come to the verses that cause a glitch in me: They entered into a covenant to seek the Lord, the God of their ancestors, with all their heart and soul. All who would not seek the Lord, the God of Israel, were to be put to death, whether small or great, man or woman. They took an oath to the Lord with a loud acclamation, with shouting and with trumpets and horns. v. 12-14.

In their zeal for God it sounded like they were going to put to death others. What is seen is temporary. I keep coming back to the Cross. Scorning its shame…What does the Cross represent and scorn? Everything not of God’s love.

How do we keep our gaze on God? We embrace His Love and let His Love work in our hearts and minds. We trust God – Father, Son, Spirit – to lead us through the valley of the shadow of death that permeates this world bent on hate. We believe Him when He tells us to forgive. He forgave. How can we not?

Gaze at God…Glance at problems…is so much easier when we walk with God because His Presence reminds us. An amazing transformation happens. We learn to trust the Creator of all that is and His goodness to lead us out of everything hindering our hearts.

When I read difficult to understand verses in the written word of God, when problems in this world or in my small life overwhelm me, I go to the Living Word of God. He will instruct me and teach me in the way I should go…He will counsel me and watch over me. It’s personal and so very good! Walking with Him in the faith of His Love frees me to learn from Him because He is always with me. Accepting that His Love for us is real and then letting go of every idea not of His Love is a journey that can only be walked with Him. Take His hand. He’s here. Always. Thank You Lord, for so great, so tender, so faithful a Love for all of us. Your Love is not temporary…Your Love is eternal!