Keep your eyes on Him!

    When the prophet Samuel goes to Bethlehem to choose a new king from among Jesse’s sons (1 Samuel 16), the very first son presented to him, he immediately believes to be the chosen of the Lord. The Lord, however, immediately stops him with these words: “Do not look at his appearance or at his physical stature, because I have refused him. For the Lord does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” (v.7)
    God does not see or understand things the way we do. In fact, Isaiah 55:8-9 says that His thoughts and ways are not ours, rather they are higher than ours. Our perspective is limited, God’s is limitless. We are limited because we so often focus on what we can see and on our ability. God is not limited because He knows that with Him, nothing is impossible. As Matthew 19:26 says: “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”     
    It is therefore interesting, the dialogue that takes place between David and various persons on the battlefield as they await someone to take up Goliath’s challenge. 
    When David goes before Saul as the one brave enough to take on this challenge, Saul immediately looks at his appearance and so judges his ability to fight: “You are not able to go out against this Philistine and fight him; you are only a young man, and he has been a warrior from his youth.” (v.33) Instead of being daunted by his king’s words, David replies: “The Lord who rescued me from the paw of the lion and the paw of the bear will rescue me from the hand of this Philistine.” (v.37) David does not focus on his ability. He knows that he is only a youth. He knows that Goliath is way bigger than him. He knows that he is not a trained soldier. He knows all that he is not but he also knows all that his God was and is and that his God could do the impossible. While others were focused on the obvious, David was focused on his God.
    Even Goliath himself disdained David when he saw him (v.42) and threatened to feed him to the birds and the beasts. Yet, David was not afraid. He kept his focus on his God who could do all things: “…for the battle is the Lord’s, and He will give you into our hands.” (v.47) David never once flinched in the face of this seemingly impossible challenge. He knew his God and he knew what he could do because he had experienced God’s power in his life. He kept his eyes fixed on Him so that while everyone else was afraid, he remained calm and confident. In short, when others were focused on outward appearance and on man’s ability, David focused on God’s ability to handle the problem effectively.
    Similarly, when the doctor’s report, the health challenges, the marriage challenges, the financial issues seem daunting and discouraging, keep your eyes fixed on the God who is able to do the impossible. No matter what the situation is saying to you or even shouting at you, let God be the final authority, the One with the final say on any matter. He is the One who has the ability to handle whatever comes our way, we don’t. He can handle what is bigger than us, what is way beyond our ability. 
    So, be encouraged, the God of this universe, is not going to sit idly by and watch you be crushed and defeated by the challenges of life. Once you keep your focus on Him, you will be encouraged, you will be strengthened because you know that you know that the battle is still the Lord’s and He will not fail you. 
    If you have not accepted Jesus Christ into your life as your personal Lord and Saviour, I encourage you to do so today. God is not a man that He should lie. If He says that the battle belongs to Him, it belongs to Him and He will fight for you, He will not fail you. 
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