Look and live

Moses built an altar and called it The Lord is my Banner.

(Exodus 17:15, NKJV)

Where and what we look at has a direct influence in what we think about and how we feel.  While we might not give a lot of thought to what we are looking at, if we continue looking intently and with a view to see, really see, what is in front of us, it will impact our thoughts and our feelings.  When I look at children jumping around happily, I sense some excitement and without planning too, a smile plays on my lips; when I look at a water fall and the splashed water hits softly on my skin, there is a sense of calmness and relaxation that I get; conversely, when I look at an individual crying helplessly for someone to help, my heart feels sad.  I do not know about you, but I realize that my senses are so connected, what I see, feel, perceive are related – there is power in focus.  Try it yourself and see if you come to the same conclusion. As I reflected on this, I observed that it is important to choose where we focus on.  There are times when what is around us seems to be doom and gloom leading our hearts into sadness and heaviness that we cannot shrug off easily.  When one is such in a situation, it is notable that they tend to look down often avoiding eye contact.  They are so wrapped up in the helplessness of the situation that all they see is the doom.  Beloved, if you are in this context today, allow me to nudge you to consciously look up, away from the helplessness around you and dare to focus your eyes up, literary.  Focus your eyes on something different and allow your heart to feel different, some strength sipping in.

Our reference verse comes from the story of Joshua in battle, and Moses had to keep his hands lifted in the air.  For as long Moses’ hands were up, Joshua won the battle but when Moses’ hands lost strength and fell down, Joshua was losing. In the end, Joshua and the Israelites won the battle and Moses raised an altar in the place.  This is where we get the name of God as “Jehovah Nissi” – meaning “Jehovah our banner” or Jehovah our Strength”.  My focus is on the word “up”, Moses kept his hands up for victory and a banner is hoisted up.  Banners are put up to communicate a standard and to inspire those who acknowledge it’s meaning.  For us, Jehovah is our banner, He is our strength and so we look up to be inspired and redirected when we need help.  When in desperate places, our gaze needs to go up to our banner, Jehovah, from where we receive the power to go forward and to hope again.  It is where we look that determines how we move forward. 

We read of David saying that he would lift up his eyes to the hills for he knew his help was in the Lord (Psalm 121: 1-2).  David’s confidence was in the Lord his God and so he looked up to him.  Beloved, where and whom we look at will impact our journey.  There are many voices and happenings around us, but our eyes must remain looking up to Jesus the author and finisher of our faith (Hebrews 12:2).  If we look around us, we will be discouraged by all the news we hear but we can rise above them all by focusing up. It is instructive that Jesus Himself speaking of times when the world will be reporting disasters and worrisome happenings like we experience today, He urged us to look up for our redemption is near (Luke 21:28).  Brethren, where you are looking is important, it influences whether you stand strong or are growing week.  W.A. Ogden in 1887, wrote the hymn “I’ve a message from the Lord Hallelujah” – the message is “look and live, look to Jesus and live”.  Our banner is highly hoisted to be seen by all who look, may we draw strength from the power and assurance it represents, as we take this battle of faith.  Beloved, let us look up and live.

Thoughts:

Where are you looking?

What do you see?

How do you feel? How does this impact you?