From Glancing to Gazing Upward

Stargazing has been around for as long as I can remember, but it really should be called star glancing.  If you are anything like me, you occasionally look at the stars. Now imagine the last time you really gazed at something.  What would it be like to reprioritize our glancing to gazing?

When I put out the request for favorite Bible verses, Ricky Phillips was the first person to respond with his verse choice of Psalm 121:1-2.  “I will lift up my eyes to the hills — From whence comes my help? My help comes from the LORD, Who made heaven and earth.”  Brother Ricky adds, “No matter what happens, I can look to the Lord for his help. I need to look up to Him and not always within myself.”

Some people are just special to you.  Brother Ricky Phillips has been a huge supporter of my blog and the reason that I started a blog.  When I started my blog, he would always seek me out at church to comment on my latest blog entry.  Brother Ricky even referenced it one day in his sermon, and man, talk about feeling big time! I’ve thought about his verse choices a lot over this past week and decided there are a couple of different ways I can think about these verses.

Who is my go-to for direction?

So many times in life, we try to make decisions on our own, and when we do want input, we find a friend or family member to consult.  I know I’ve been guilty of only going to God after I’ve exhausted all other options.  It’s easy to lean on what we can directly see, touch, and hear; however, we do not always need to take the easiest path.  Why do I expect God to always provide the hail mary instead of the ASAP solution?  Why don’t I immediately turn to God for wisdom and direction?

I have made a concerted effort lately to go to God first and continually when I am anxious or contemplating a decision.  It is like a sigh of fresh air to not have to be solely responsible for so many decisions on my own.

What is capturing my eye?

In the year 2020, I think we were forced to look up more.  Recently, I showed someone a beautiful picture of the pink and purple morning hues in the sky.  He commented, “I’ve seen more sky pictures on social media lately than I ever have.” One positive of the COVID pandemic was it forced us to slow down and look up and around. I think many of us will admit we’ve looked at the sky and nature more than we have in a long time.  We tend to grow in the direction of where our eyes turn.

Am I glancing or gazing?

As I was pondering and researching these verses, I came across the principle of gazing and glancing.  A glance is a quick look.  A gaze is something that you fixate your eyes on and look at with steady intention.  So many times, we gaze at our problems and desires while giving God a mere glance at scheduled times throughout the day and week. I know we can’t always walk away from our problems or obligations.  Imagine what could happen if we made a concerted effort to switch from glancing to glazing! If we focus our gazing on God, his creation, and his promises, everything else will seem secondary.  How much easier will it be to face each day’s challenges?

This week, my prayer is that I can go from glancing to gazing upward and outward! I pray that I can keep my eyes upward and show grace to others along the way.