Look

When things repeat over and over, in Scripture passages it is best to pay attention and respond. I haven’t been able to place words coherently together lately. Rather, I have been listening and quiet. It’s made writing a bit challenging, when the words just won’t come. My brain has worked out all the solutions for each of the problems/situations in my life.

You can guess how well my plans are going.

How am I spending the time given to me? When I am driving, or sitting, or walking? It is very easy for me to pick up a podcast, book, or music to fill in the gaps. I am facing situations right now that I cannot control. I cannot maneuver on my own. But I play out scenarios, imagine conversations, see the future in my mind.

We have a catio for our animals. I would say for our cats, but Luna has decided this is a lovely place to sit, protected and watch the wildlife come to our feeders. What has captured my attention are the bunnies, squirrels and of course, legions of birds that are not even 3 feet away from our little predators. What separates them is a sort of cage. Yet they (wildlife) have seen that this barrier has kept them safe.

SO they come. Eat. Of course, they are cautious, but truly, they feast. We know they are safe. Luna and the cats (sounds like a good name for a band) are disgruntled by this barrier. And thus there is the great dance. Luna cries at the window. The birds feast on.

God knows my situation, better than anyone. He sees the whole dance in my life. He knows that I will eat. He knows I will always have His presence.

Last night I was listening to my Dwell app and heard the verses from Genesis 15:1-6.

“After these things the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision, saying, “Do not fear, Abram, I am a shield to you; Your reward shall be very great.””
‭‭Genesis‬ ‭15‬:‭1‬ ‭NASB1995‬‬
https://bible.com/bible/100/gen.15.1.NASB1995

Which then makes me think of Matthew 6…

““For this reason I say to you, do not be worried about your life, as to what you will eat or what you will drink; nor for your body, as to what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?”
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭6‬:‭25‬ ‭NASB1995‬‬
https://bible.com/bible/100/mat.6.25.NASB1995

God came to Abram. God comes to us as well. Do not be afraid. Do not worry. His word came to Abram. I love that picture. What was that vision like? Give me a picture!

“Abram said, “O Lord God, what will You give me, since I am childless, and the heir of my house is Eliezer of Damascus?” And Abram said, “Since You have given no offspring to me, one born in my house is my heir.””
‭‭Genesis‬ ‭15‬:‭2‬-‭3‬ ‭NASB1995‬‬
https://bible.com/bible/100/gen.15.2-3.NASB1995

Abram doesn’t see it. He only sees what is in his limited view. He isn’t holding his child in his arms. The future in His eyes is bleak. There is no one to carry His name.

“Then behold, the word of the Lord came to him, saying, “This man will not be your heir; but one who will come forth from your own body, he shall be your heir.” And He took him outside and said, “Now look toward the heavens, and count the stars, if you are able to count them.” And He said to him, “So shall your descendants be.””
‭‭Genesis‬ ‭15‬:‭4‬-‭5‬ ‭NASB1995‬‬
https://bible.com/bible/100/gen.15.4-5.NASB1995

The word of the Lord came to him. So, to be clear, (it’s not) the Lord came in a vision and now He comes in a word and declares the truth. Abram will hold his own child. God then took Abram outside. (More information, please?) Did God invite A? Did He come bodily? Inquiring minds want to know. Anyway, they come outside and God tells him to look. And he tells us to look.

“Look at the birds of the air, that they do not sow, nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not worth much more than they? And who of you by being worried can add a single hour to his life?”
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭6‬:‭26‬-‭27‬ ‭NASB1995‬‬
https://bible.com/bible/100/mat.6.26-27.NASB1995

God tells us to look as well so that whenever we see the birds we remember. God feeds them. He will feed us as well. Anytime Abram doubted, he could look to the stars and remember the promise. Notice this takes our eyes off of us. Off of the situations that we have no control over. He tells us to look.

I’ve given this piece of advice numerous times and it is time for me to use it more faithfully. When I have certain thoughts, spiraling future plans, where I have no authority, it is time to remember these words. I need to look. Look for the birds.

I need to go out and feed my birds this morning. I am part of their help and survival but if I were to stop., they would find other places. God would provide for them in other ways. This way, I am a part of their little lives. In turn, I am given an active reminder that God will feed me. He knows what I need.

“Then he believed in the Lord; and He reckoned it to him as righteousness.”
‭‭Genesis‬ ‭15‬:‭6‬ ‭NASB1995‬‬
https://bible.com/bible/100/gen.15.6.NASB1995

Abram believed. Our belief is our worship. How often I forget this. Our obedience and our belief/trust sing.

“For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. “So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭6‬:‭32‬-‭34‬ ‭NASB1995‬‬
https://bible.com/bible/100/mat.6.33-34.NASB1995

Trust in the Lord. He knows what we need. I cannot describe how much time I have spent lately trying to come up with solutions. If we do this…I have so many scenarios. What if?

Maybe my question should be even if? He’s asking us to seek and serve. Run after His kingdom. His justice. His righteousness. Praying. We are called to not spin and worry. We are called to live in this day.

Whatever we face today, God will never leave us. He is with us in all that today holds.