{"id":6575,"date":"2015-11-18T07:44:20","date_gmt":"2015-11-18T12:44:20","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/debmillswriter.com\/?p=6575"},"modified":"2015-11-18T07:45:19","modified_gmt":"2015-11-18T12:45:19","slug":"worship-wednesday-fixing-my-eyes-on-you-god-for-king-and-country","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/debmillswriter.com\/?p=6575","title":{"rendered":"Worship Wednesday – Fixing My Eyes on You, God – For King and Country"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Blog<\/a>Photo Credit: BPNews.net<\/a><\/p>\n

Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross<\/strong>, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.<\/span> For consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.<\/strong><\/em> – Hebrews 12:1-3<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

I wonder at the commercial value of media’s generating fear among us.\u00a0A strangling fear can\u00a0choke out love and awareness of those real people behind the news commentators – people who desperately need\u00a0hope and a future<\/a>.\u00a0For us, as Christians, as we watch the news of a world seemingly gone mad, what is our response?<\/p>\n

Our action and reaction must always be to fix our eyes on God – <\/strong>to act in accordance with His love and character. To be driven by news media or public opinion is not an option for us as Christ-followers. We have a different path set before us, but we do not walk it alone.<\/p>\n

Praise God that He has surrounded us with His own love and with “a great cloud of witnesses”. We are spurred on by the lives of those\u00a0who have gone before us – who chose faithfulness over fear, peace over prosperity, security in\u00a0Heaven over safety here. We are also emboldened to live such a life because of Jesus who lived such a life –\u00a0without sin, in obedience to the Father, for our sakes.<\/p>\n

I heard someone being interviewed on the radio yesterday saying her opinion about the current world crisis was set because of her concern for her own children. She would do whatever she could to “circle the wagons” around them. I understand her concerns but not her conclusions. We all want a world where our children can thrive and\u00a0discover what God meant for them in this life.<\/p>\n

Focusing on our own children will not create that world. Focusing on God’s purposes for us in this current\u00a0world, the only one\u00a0we have, is our greatest hope for our children’s future.<\/p>\n

Joel and Luke Smallbone, of the band For King and Country<\/a>, sing a rousing anthem entitled Fix My Eyes<\/em>. I previously wrote about it here<\/a>. The song relates to looking back with regret to decisions made earlier in life and points to how we might live today.<\/p>\n

I want to live such a life today.<\/p>\n

Worship<\/a> with me:<\/span><\/p>\n

Hit rewind, click delete
\nStand face to face with the younger me
\nAll of the mistakes
\nAll of the heartbreak
\nHere\u2019s what I\u2019d do differently, I\u2019d<\/span><\/p>\n

(Chorus)
\nLove like I\u2019m not scared<\/strong>
\n Give when it\u2019s not fair<\/strong>
\n Live life for another<\/strong>
\n Take time for a brother<\/strong>
\n Fight for the weak ones<\/strong>
\n Speak out for freedom<\/strong>
\n Find faith in the battle<\/strong>
\n Stand tall but above it all<\/strong>
\n Fix my eyes on You<\/strong>
\n On You<\/strong><\/p>\n

I learned the lines and talked the talk
\n(Everybody knows it, everybody knows it)
\nBut the road less traveled is hard to walk
\n(Everybody knows it, everybody knows)
\nIt takes a soldier
\nWho knows his orders
\nTo walk the walk I\u2019m supposed to walk, and<\/p>\n

(Chorus)<\/p>\n

The things of earth are dimming
\nIn the light of Your glory and grace
\nI\u2019ll set my sights upon Heaven
\nI\u2019m fixing my eyes on You, on You
\nI\u2019m fixing my eyes on You, on You
\nI\u2019m fixing my eyes<\/p>\n

(Chorus)<\/p>\n

I\u2019ll fix my eyes on You, on You
\nI\u2019ll fix my eyes on You, on You<\/p>\n

\u201cThat hope is why we do what we do to carry that into any situation, any environment, that we\u2019re allowed to, to\u00a0offer people\u00a0not just a temporary fix but, God willing, offer them a changed eternity.\u201d \u2013 Joel Smallbone<\/span><\/u><\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

“A changed eternity”. What are you seeing about you and what are you doing to move our world, person by person, toward a changed eternity? Please comment below…and thank you.<\/p>\n