What do you see?

Be Still . . .
Devotionals for Daily Living

For my eyes have seen your salvation,
which you have prepared in the sight of all people,
a light for revelation to the Gentiles
and for glory to your people Israel.
(Luke 2:30-32 (NIV))

When Simeon spoke these words, he was an old man whom God had promised would see his salvation. Can you imagine searching for something all of your life with such earnestness that once you find it, you feel that you have completed your purpose in life? Simeon was overjoyed, just as we should be.

Jesus was only a newborn infant when this occurred. Mary and Joseph had brought him to the temple to consecrate him to God. Simeon had been looking for salvation all of his life. Perhaps that is why he so readily recognized it when it was presented to him. To most people, Jesus was simply a baby just like all of the others. Simeon was able to look beyond the obvious and see the miraculous simply because he had been waiting expectantly for the miraculous.

During this Christmas season, are we able to see the miraculous just as Simeon was able to see when it happened? Can we see God at work even when the world doesn’t see what He is doing?

What do you see?

Copyright 1998 – 2018 Dennis J. Smock
Daily Living Ministries, Inc.
http://www.dailylivingministries.org
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Joy

Be Still . . .
Devotionals for Daily Living ^©

How precious to me are your thoughts, O God!
How vast is the sum of them!
(Psalms 139:17 (NIV))

We could sit at the feet of God forever and still not be able to fathom the depth of His being! We would only begin to see a glimpse of His love. We would only begin to see a glimpse of His mercy.

We may not be able to fully comprehend His thoughts, for He is beyond our human comprehnsion. Even so, we must long to know His thoughts, for His thoughts are life. His thoughts are love. His thoughts are grace and mercy! We should long to be in His thoughts. To know His thoughts. We must desire to fulfill His thoughts so that our actions are in His Will.

God is infinite. Contrary to what some people believe, He is not dead. They simply do not see Him through their clouded vision. Perhaps that is another reason to long to know the thoughts of God, for when we know His thoughts, we see everything clearer.

Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.
(1 Corinthians 13:12(NIV))

When we know God’s thoughts, we see as if face to face. What a joyous thought!

Are the thoughts of God your joy?

Copyright 1998 – 2011 Dennis J. Smock
Daily Living Ministries, Inc.
http://www.dailylivingministries.org
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How do you see?

Be Still . . .
Devotionals for Daily Living ^©

When the servant of the man of God got up and went out early the next morning, an army with horses and chariots had surrounded the city. “Oh, my lord, what shall we do?” the servant asked.

“Don’t be afraid,” the prophet answered. “Those who are with us are more than those who are with them.”

And Elisha prayed, “O LORD, open his eyes so he may see.” Then the LORD opened the servant’s eyes, and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.
(2 Kings 6:15-17 (NIV))

How many times are we guilty of the same thing as Elisha’s servant? We see only with the natural and do not even acknowledge the supernatural that God is doing all around us. We do not stop to realize that God is capable of doing anything and that we do not have to see it happen in order for it to happen.

Could you imagine how Elisha’s servant felt after his eyes were open and he was allowed to see what God was actually doing? I can honestly say that I would have been humbled and humiliated especially when you stop to consider who I would have been serving. Elisha was a man of God. He was a prophet with a track record that just would not quit. It should have been obvious to his servant that God had something in the works, after all, Elisha had walked earnestly with God and God had honored that walk with allowing Elisha to speak His Will to the people. God always delivered what He said would happen as told by Elisha.

Has something happened recently that has made you feel like Elisha’s servant? Did you come away from that episode or event with a clearer understanding of God? Will you look at future situations with more faith as a result of that event?

How do you see?

Copyright 1998 – 2011 Dennis J. Smock
Daily Living Ministries, Inc.
http://www.dailylivingministries.org
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