Look up

2 Corinthians 5:7 says that we walk by faith and not by sight. Sometimes though, it's really hard not to look at the circumstances around us and let them tell us how we should walk.

In Mark chapter 8 we read the story of Jesus healing the blind man.   He takes the man out of Bethsaida. Jesus spits on the man's eyes and then asks him if he can see anything.
The man responds by saying he sees men like trees.   Jesus puts his hands over the man's eyes, and then the next thing he does is he makes him 'look up'.

In Acts 7:55 Stephen is facing a raging mob. They are stirred up by his message, and yet, being filled with the Holy Spirit it says "And he looked steadfastly up to heaven"

Even the Psalmist wrote "I will lift mine eyes up to the hills 
from whence cometh my help." (Psalm 121:1)

What is the significance of 'looking up'?  Jesus is asking the man to look beyond where he saw 'men like trees'; Stephen is taking his eyes off the mob and the Psalmist is casting his gaze away from wherever he is.

The point is that everything around us has the ability to speak to us.  Whether it is our bank account, the doctor's report, an interview, someone else, or any other circumstance you can imagine, Jesus urges us to look away from the things that speak anything contrary to his Word.  Look up and focus your mind back on God.

There is an old song it says "Turn your eyes upon Jesus. Look fulll in his wonderful face and the things of the earth will grow strangely dim, in the light of His glory and grace."

Today don't fix your eyes on the challenges or problems in your life; fix your gaze on God and consider His perspective. When you see things His way, it will give you an opportunity to give thanks and worship him and from that point, you will 'walk by faith' through the storm right on top of the water.

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