LIFT UP YOUR EYES

Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest.
John 4:35

This phrase "lift up your eyes" was used many times in the ministry of Jesus. Before the feeding of the five thousand with five loaves and two fishes, Jesus "lifted up his eyes." Before Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead, He stood before an empty tomb and an unbelieving crowd and "lifted up his eyes.  We are told when Jesus taught or prayed before the multitudes, He "lifted up his eyes."  This means more than just looking toward heaven with your physical eyes.  It is a redirecting of your attention from this natural world and its circumstances to the realm of the Holy Spirit.  We sometimes think of God sitting on His throne in heaven, when He is actually closer than that.  He is an ever-present help in the time of need. If we will acknowledge His presence and look to Him for help, we will be delivered.

The Israelites were commanded to look at the brazen serpent to be healed.  The serpent represented Jesus on the cross bearing our curse.  Looking at the serpent, with natural eyes did not heal, but seeing the image through the eyes of faith would bring divine deliverance. The look of faith for us will bring supernatural help, wisdom, and guidance from the Holy Spirit.

Many times Christians want to spend long periods of time in prayer before fighting a spiritual battle.  They believe hours of intercession are necessary before laying hands on the sick or counseling another believer.  What did Jesus do as He went through His day? Needs came at Him so fast, He did not have time to go into His prayer closet.  In one day He spoke at the synagogue, healed a man let down through the roof, cured Peter's mother-in-law, healed the woman with the issue of blood, and raised Jairus' daughter from the dead.  Jesus knew the power of God was ever present-just one glance away.  He "looked up."

Are you faced with a need?  Get your attention off yourself.  Help is a look away. Lift up your spiritual eyes and see a world bigger than you are.  Take a fresh look into a realm where nothing is impossible.  How differently would you act in a situation if you knew you could not fail?  This is the confidence God wants you to experience as you look into the realm of the Holy Spirit and see the world the world though God's eyes.