Lord help me to see...

          ​Last week I spoke about the tiny staple. I looked at the fact that the devil sometimes magnifies a negative situation and makes it appear bigger than it is. We may feel intimidated and discouraged but we need to remember that our God is even bigger than our biggest problem.
            Somehow, this week, I feel the need to continue along the same thread and I thought of 2 Kings 6:8-23. In this story, the king of Syria was concerned because someone kept revealing his strategies against the Israelites. In this way, the king of Israel was always forewarned and therefore able to protect his people from their Syrian enemies. He thought it was one of his own men but when he inquired, he found out that Elisha, a prophet of Israel, was responsible. When he found out where Elisha was staying, he decided to send horses and chariots and a great army to take him. Imagine, an entire army for one man! By the time Elisha’s servant awoke the following morning, he saw a great army surrounding the entire city and he became afraid. But Elisha simply said to him: “Do not fear, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them” (v. 16). He then asked God to open the eyes of his servant who then saw that the mountain was filled with horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha (v.17).
            Let’s face it, we too would have responded in the same way that Elisha’s servant did. It amazes me that the king of Syria would send such a large contingent to take one man but he did. Clearly he was very afraid of him. But what is interesting is how the devil magnified the problem. That entire army was sent to intimidate Elisha yet Elisha knew that they were but a small thing in comparison to his God. Unlike the king of Syria, he was not afraid. He knew that His God was able. What is also interesting is that in the midst of this “magnified” problem, Elisha was able to see that God’s covering and protection were there … and they were more powerful than what the enemy had sent His way. Because he chose to keep his focus on His God, he was able to see a God who is bigger than the biggest problem right in front of him. In fact, God was surrounding what was surrounding him so he was covered! 
            Maybe like Elisha, we need to ask God to help us to “see,” not the problem and how big it seems but our God and how big He is. Once Elisha got his servant to “see” God in their situation, the fear left. And because Elisha was already seeing God in their midst, he was able to take authority over the situation instead of allowing the situation to take authority over him. We, too, have to understand our authority in Christ so that no matter what comes our way, we won’t allow it to control us, instead we will take authority over it.
            So, yes, once again your focus is important. Once your eyes are on your God instead of on that intimidating situation, fear has to flee. You can then take authority – the authority that God has given you over all the power of the enemy (Luke 10:19) - and nothing and no one will be able to triumph over you!