But first, let me tell you about what my friend Sue called \u201cThe Look.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n
“The Look”<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
The Look <\/em>could strike fear in a child\u2019s heart from 30 feet away. It could stop foolish behavior in its tracks, silence inappropriate chatter, and deliver a complete lecture with a single lift of an eyebrow. The Look<\/strong> was Sue’s mom\u2019s most effective disciplinary tool during Sunday morning church service, Sunday night worship, and Wednesday night choir practice. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Because Sue\u2019s mom was the choir director and church pianist, she never sat with her children. Instead, ten minutes before the service, she\u2019d march them down to the front row, remind them of proper church behavior, and take her seat at the piano. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Perched primly on the edge of the bench with her back ramrod straight, she\u2019d begin the prelude. Her eyes would follow the notes\u2019 progression across the sheet music, but occasionally she\u2019d glance in her children\u2019s direction. Misbehavior of any kind prompted The Look. <\/p>\n\n\n\n I thought of The Look this morning when I read Psalm 32:8: <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will guide you with My eye.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n Apparently, God has also perfected The Look. <\/p>\n\n\n\n I love Psalm 32:8,<\/strong> because it assures me that God will direct the events of my life. He\u2019ll give me wisdom when I ask and instruction when I\u2019m confused or unsure. Equally important, he\u2019ll correct any behavior that will lead me away from him and his will for my life. I take comfort in this. <\/p>\n\n\n\n But just like Sue\u2019s mom didn\u2019t jump off the platform and snatch up Sue and her brother, so the Lord seldom jerks us up by the collar to dispense his wisdom and correction. Most of the time, he waits for us to ask. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Sue\u2019s mom\u2019s look was mostly for correction purposes, but the Lord desires to lead and guide us in his ways so we don\u2019t require correction. Or discipline. Or consequences. His desire is to spare us from harm and lead us in the paths of righteousness for his name\u2019s sake. If we\u2019re smart, we\u2019ll want this. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Sadly, many of us miss God\u2019s direction\u2014not because he doesn\u2019t offer it, but because we\u2019re not looking for it. In order for God to lead us, we must turn our faces toward him. How do we do this? <\/p>\n\n\n\n John 1:1 shows us one way:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIn the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n Because God has revealed himself through the Bible, when we look into his Word, we look into his heart and mind. We see life through his eyes. This is why it\u2019s imperative that we read our Bibles every day. We wouldn\u2019t start a cross-country car trip without using an accurate GPS system, yet many times we begin the day without checking with God to see if he has any directions for us. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Another way to look into God\u2019s eyes is through prayer.<\/strong> By talking to him (and being still long enough to hear him), we invite a two-way conversation that can chart the course of our lives. <\/p>\n\n\n\n I\u2019ve often heard the Lord speak during my early morning quiet time. As I pray through the day\u2019s schedule, God will bring someone or something to mind. Sometimes he\u2019ll redirect where I plan to spend my time, energy, or money. Other times he\u2019ll introduce a completely new thought or idea for tackling something on my To Do list. When I follow through in faith and do what I think he\u2019s telling me to do, amazing things happen. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Reading our Bibles and praying are two ways we seek God\u2019s face, but some days, we\u2019d rather not have his eyes upon us. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Some Sundays Sue and her brother deliberately avoided their mother\u2019s eyes. They knew if they looked at her, they\u2019d have to decide between correcting their behavior and continuing their disobedience. Once they made eye contact with Mother, they knew there was no hiding. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The same is true of us.<\/strong> We love\/hate our pet sins: Anger. Bitterness. Unforgiveness. Lying. Pornography. Gossip. Worry. Lust. Self-sufficiency. Pride. We don\u2019t want to let go of them, even though they\u2019re destroying us. <\/p>\n\n\n\n I think one of the reasons God called David a \u201cman after God\u2019s own heart is because he knew how to turn his face toward God. Listen to his prayer in Psalm 27:8: <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWhen You said, \u2018Seek My face,\u2019 my heart said to You, \u2018Your face, LORD, I will seek.\u2019” <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n David knew he needed God. He knew he couldn\u2019t navigate this world on his own, nor did he want to. His only hope was to keep his eyes on God. My friend Sue felt the same way (although she might not admit it).<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you need guidance, wisdom, direction, or correction, follow David\u2019s lead. Turn your eyes toward God. Confess any known sin. Read his Word and obey it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Then you will walk in the ways of righteousness and feel God\u2019s pleasure.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Now it\u2019s your turn. How do you turn your face toward God\u2019s? I\u2019d love to hear from you in the comments below.<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n Have you ordered your copy of Lori\u2019s newest devotional, Think on These Things: 60 Thoughtful Devotions for Renewed Peace<\/a><\/em>? An Amazon #1 Hot New Release, this story-driven devotional will help you fight negativity and think on those things that are true, noble, right, pure, lovely, excellent, and praiseworthy. You\u2019ll experience joy and peace every day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n Have you ever been in a situation that made you wonder what to do next? Have you longed for God\u2019s direction but felt unsure about how to find it? THere\u2019s a clue in Psalm 32<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2880,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"nf_dc_page":"","_et_pb_use_builder":"off","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_uf_show_specific_survey":0,"_uf_disable_surveys":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2878","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"yoast_head":"\nPsalm 32<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Not only for correction<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
How to turn our faces toward God<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Avoiding God\u2019s eyes<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nLori\u2019s Newest Devotional, an Amazon #1 New Release!<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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<\/figure>\n\n\n\nIf you\u2019d like to receive Lori\u2019s weekly 5-minute devotions to help you rediscover your passion for God and His Word, subscribe here<\/a> or at the top of the paIf you\u2019d like to receive Lori\u2019s weekly 5-minute devotions to help you rediscover your passion for God and His Word subscribe HERE<\/a> or at the top of the page.<\/h3>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"