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Title: Lift Up Your Eyes
Date: May 4, 2021

Have you ever been led to a ask a perfect stranger if you could pray a blessing over him or her? I highly recommend you follow the prompting when the Spirit leads you to do so.

The condition of today’s world often leaves us dismayed. I find I long for good reports. It’s refreshing to hear about or witness acts of kindness, goodness and care for mankind. It’s like a cool drink of water in a parched land!

Genesis 13:14-15
The Lord said, “Now lift up your eyes, and look from the place where you are, northward, southward, eastward and westward. For all the land that you see I will give it to you and all your descendants forever.”

This was a special blessing for a notable time. Abraham was trying to promote peace. Notice what Abraham did first: he lifted up his eyes! In a world where folks seem to be buried in their devices, it leaves us with much less time to look up. Looking up gives us godly perspective. It clears our minds. Looking up is mentioned often in scripture, therefore it must be highly beneficial to our souls! In contrast, looking down keeps us numb to what is going on around us, not to mention who is around us. It closes the door to opportunities to reach a hopeless world. Looking down distracts our thoughts, clouds our minds and at times can leave us truly downcast. We are privy to too much bad news and the sad decline of our society. Our spirits were not intended to carry such loads.

If our device distraction wasn’t bad enough, we have now added the face mask situation to the mix. We each have our own opinions on this matter, and for many different reasons. However, we can all agree it has definitely changed the atmosphere of our society. What use to be a simple walk down the aisle of a store, or time sitting in a waiting room in which we could look up, smile and greet one another, has now turned into an endless sea of expressionless eyes. For me personally, I wear a mask as little as possible, so I often receive stares and glares of contempt and judgment. We can hardly speak to one another! Some don’t speak because of fear, others because we tend to reason that we can’t even be heard or understood behind the mask. Whatever the reasons, Satan has us right where he wants us. I pray we can soon gain a new perspective on these challenging times!

In the verses from Genesis referenced above, Abraham looked about and sought peace. Isn’t peace what most of us desire right now? There are so many different ways we can seek out peace, ways we can impart peace to others. Notice that God told Abraham to “look from the place you are.” This is so incredibly simple. Why do we tend to miss it? We need not look far to bless someone: it is right here, right now, where we happen to be in the moment! The situation doesn’t need to be perfect or even dire! My pastor once said as hard as it may be at times to ask a perfect stranger to pray over them… not once has he been refused!

Recently I helped one of my daughters as she was moving to a new home. It was in the final days of packing that she decided to put some of her larger pieces of furniture on an app called Offer Up. People view pictures of the items, then make offers. Highest bid wins!

Before we knew it there were countless offers. A particular party made an offer immediately on my daughter’s dining room table and chairs. I am pretty sure the Lord had this all planned out in advance!

The doorbell rang and in walked a seemingly desperate mom with her eighteen-year-old son. He had such a kind face. They quickly looked at the table and chairs and were eager to load them up. We soon found out she was a single mom of six children, and with a home desperately needing furniture.

My daughter was so moved by her story, she offered her all the furniture that was left at no charge. As they loaded their truck, I couldn’t help but sense God’s nudge to pray a blessing over them. I asked if the mother was open to that and just as my pastor had predicted, she did not refuse, not to mention that the experience brought a tear to her eye.

Taking the time out to pray blessings over someone is God-honoring. Folks, we need not ask questions, no details are required. Who would not want to receive a blessing, a short prayer that our Almighty Father would pour out His mercy and favor on the receiver. We might be the only person they know who’s ever interceded for them. Perhaps someday in eternity we will learn how one prayer for someone changed that person’s course or stabilized his life!

That sweet woman we prayed for shortly thereafter texted my daughter with the kindest words of sincere gratitude. I read once if we really desire a closer communion with God we must keep close to what He desires for us. We must be open to ushering in and unleashing God’s abundant goodness and setting it in motion!

Back in our Genesis passage, notice the last part: “For all the land that you see I will give it to you and all your descendants forever.” Wow, isn’t our Heavenly Father so sweet? All that is required is that we LOOK UP and SEEK PEACE right where we are. When we bless others, He turns it around and blesses us right back. As His children we can be assured that whatsoever brings pleasure to God will bring pleasure to us!

There is a very spiritually hungry world out there. Step out…be bold… pray a blessing over someone today… and be blessed yourself. The angels will rejoice, for it is in that moment when God is honored, and you get to be a part of it!

1 Samuel 2:30
Those who honor me, I will honor…

Deuteronomy 28:2-3
All these blessings will come upon you and overtake you if you obey the Lord your God. Blessed will you be in the city.

Deuteronomy 12:28
Be careful to listen to all these words which I command you, so that it may be well with you and you sons after you forever. For you will be doing what is good and right in the sight of the Lord.

Wise words from Charles Spurgeon:
“We must feel compassion for others and give them not just a few dry crusts, but such things as we ourselves would want to receive. If we show a tender care for our fellow creatures in the hour of their need, then the Lord will attend to our necessities and make Himself our continual guide. Jesus is the leader not of those who are stingy, but of the kind and tender-hearted. Such people are pilgrims who will never lose their way.”

I love that “He will make Himself our continual guide!” I sure need that! Honoring God and honoring those around us is a sure way to never lose our way. May God bless you as you seek to step out in faith. It’s just a short prayer away!

Delighting in safe pasture,
Linda