WFJ: Lift up your eyes!

Everyone struggles with negative self-talk from time to time. There are times when we get discouraged about ourselves and we look in the “wrong” mirror, noticing all the faults and lacks that we think are impeding the fulfillment of our destiny in life! It’s at times like this that we need to take our eyes off ourselves and place them on the One “Who has called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ before the world began” (2 Tim. 1:9).

The Bible tells us that “as a man thinks in his heart, so is he” (Prov. 23:7), so we must be careful about what we think and learn to “bring into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ” (2 Cor. 10:5). A lot of our thoughts come from what we look to, and that’s why the Lord tells us to: “Look to Me, and be saved, ye ends of the earth” (Isa. 45:22).

If we want to walk in faith and claim our destiny, we must take our eyes off ourselves and “lift them up to the hills, from where comes our help. Our help comes from the Lord, which made heaven and earth. He will not suffer our foot to be moved” (Psa. 121:1-3) and He will help us to fulfill “the purpose for which we are called” (Rom.8:28).

Listen to what He recently said in the following “Words From Jesus”:

(WFJ): Lift up your eyes and look at Me! “Lift up your eyes on high” (Isa. 40:26) and don’t even look at the “boisterous wind” (Matt. 14:30) of your present circumstances! Look at Me, not yourself! “Your adversary” (1Pet. 5:8) wants to get you discouraged with your lacks and shortcomings, but I want to encourage you to not look at yourself, but to “look unto Me, the Author and Finisher of your faith” (Heb 12.2), and “walk by faith, not by sight” (2 Cor. 5:7)!

Look with eyes of faith, which is “the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen” (Heb. 11:1), things more real and tangible than visible ones, “for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal” (2 Cor. 4:18).

Often, what you see are just “lying vanities” (Jonas 2:8), that are put before you to weaken your faith, and “you don’t know what to do”! But, “if your eyes are upon Me” (2 Chr. 20:12), you will get My “words of truth” (Acts 26:25) that will encourage your faith and lift you up!

I’m not like the “accuser of the brethren” (Rev.12:10), the “father of lies” (John 8:44) who tries to bring you under his yoke of misery and gloom with words of discouragement that will cast you down! But I AM like “the Comforter, even the Spirit of truth” (John 15:26) who will lift you up with My words of life and encouragement, “edification, exhortation, and comfort” (1 Cor. 14:3) … My comfort to you!

Remember that, when you get discouraged, for it will help you to discern “who” it is that is speaking to you! It’s “by the fruits” (Matt. 7:20) that it bears in your life that you are able to recognize it! If it lifts you up and it encourages you to “reach forth to the things which are before and press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God” (Phil.3:13,14) in your life, then you know that it’s My Spirit speaking to you! Otherwise, don’t listen to it!

Like the men of God in the Bible, who were “subject to like passions as we are” (Jam. 5:17), yet they “stopped the mouths of lions” (Heb. 11:33), you need to learn to shut the mouth of the “roaring lion, who walks about and seeks whom he may devour” (1 Pet.5:8)! Don’t listen to his negative talk, but listen to the voice of My Spirit, whispering in your heart and saying : “Fear not, for I am with you! Be not discouraged, for I am your God: I will strengthen you; yes, I will help you and uphold you with the right hand of My righteousness” (Isa. 41:10).

Remember that “the thoughts that I think toward you, are thoughts of peace, not of evil, to give you hope and a future” (Jer. 29:11), so take hold of the promises that I have spoken to you and walk with confidence towards the fulfillment of your destiny! I have promised that “greater works than these will you do” (John 14:22), and I reaffirm it again, for it will not be you doing it, but “it is God which works in you both to will and to do of His good pleasure” (Phil. 2:13). “Look up, and lift up your head; for your redemption draws near” (Luke 21:28).
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More “Words from Jesus”: http://renatoamato.com/en/journaling/words-from-jesus/
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