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Wednesday, December 19, 2018

When You Look Up, Things Will Look Up

In review of Psalm 8:3-4, 9 it says, “When I look at the night sky and see the work of your fingers—the moon and the stars you set in place—what are mere mortals that you should think about them, human beings that you should care for them? . . . O LORD, our Lord, your majestic name fills the earth!” (NLT).

Today’s passage is Psalm 8:3-4, and 9. It reminds me that when I look at the night sky and see the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars you set in place, what are mere mortals like myself that you should think about them, any human being that you should care for them? O Lord, our Lord, your majestic name fills the earth!

In order to respect God's majesty, I must compare myself to his greatness. When I look at creation, which reflect the Creator in amazing ways, I should feel small by comparison. This is a healthy way to get back to reality, but God does not want us to dwell on our smallness. Humility means proper respect for God, not self-depreciation. As I look at vast expanse of creation, I wonder how God could be concerned for people, who constantly disappoint him. Yet God created us only a little lower than himself. Anytime I begin to question my worth as a person, remember that God considers me highly valuable. I have great worth because I bear the stamp of Him, my Creator. Because God has already declared how valuable I am to him, I can be set free from feelings of worthlessness.
Today I consider the phrase, “Things are looking up!” But what does this mean? It means the situation is improving. My problems are decreasing, and my opportunities are increasing.

This Christmas I need to keep in mind an important truth: Things will start to look up for me when I start looking up. In other words, my circumstances will improve when I stop looking at them and start looking at God.

Over and over in the Bible, we see this phrase: “Lift up your eyes.” It’s another way to say, “Look up. Get your eyes off yourself and onto God.”

God said it to Moses. He said it Abraham. Jesus said it to his followers.

There’s an old rhyme that says, “Two men looked out from prison bars. One saw mud, the other saw stars.” In other words, one inmate looked down in despair, but the other one looked up in hope.

I have that same choice, and I should choose to see the stars. God created every one of them. And those stars are the exact same ones that were shining on the night of Jesus’ birth 2,000 years ago—and King David saw the same stars 1,000 years before that, when he wrote these words:

When I look at the night sky and see the work of your fingers—the moon and the stars you set in place—what are mere mortals that you should think about them, human beings that you should care for them? . . . O Lord, our Lord, your majestic name fills the earth!” (Psalm 8:3-4, 9 NLT).

When I look up and see how big God is, it should shrink the size of my problems.

Bottom Line:
As we look at what God has created, who are we that he should care about us.

What this means to me:
When I look at what God has put in place, who am I that you should care about me. Your name O Lord fills the earth.

In summary, things will start to look up for me when I start looking up. My circumstances will improve when I stop looking at them and start looking at God. Two men looked out, one saw mud, the other saw stars. One looked down in despair while the other one looked up in hope. I have that same choice. When I look up and see how big God is, it should shrink the size of my problems.

Father thank you for the reminder. You are much more than my problems. You can solve any of them or provide comfort, guidance or learning when I look to you. I pray this morning that I will keep this in mind as I finish up my work this week, lead and respond to others. I pray for for your continued wisdom and guidance. In your son Jesus name I pray, amen!

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