There are some D words that can utterly debilitate us, causing us to lose focus on the One who loves us first and loves us best.  The words that come to mind are down, depressed, derailed, dejected, discouraged, downhearted, downcast, disconsolate, destroyed and dispirited.  These words form into equally stressing descriptive phrases such as down in the dumps, down and out, and down for the count. 

But hold on!  What we have here is a vision problem.  We are looking in the wrong direction…down!  We should be looking up, right into the eyes of our Lord and Savior!  Up is always better than down, directionally, spiritually and emotionally speaking.

Turn your eyes upon Jesus

Look full in His wonderful face

And the things of earth will grow strangely dim

In the Light of His glory and grace

This childhood chorus has pulled me out of the dumps more than a million times over the years of my life.  These simple words of Truth pull my focused vision back to Jesus who loved me enough to die for my sins.  My eyes look up for His direction, (a better D word!).  When I look up my ears suddenly open to hear His voice above all others with encouragement that defeats my foe of discouragement.  He lifts my broken spirit immediately when I look up humbly from bent knees.  My perspective changes because He is changing my mind.  He lifts me up and helps me stand on the solid rock of his love and grace.  Like David sings, He puts a smile back on my face! 

He IS my God!   

When people ask me, “where is this God of yours?”, like the enemies of Jesus asked Him on the cross, I sing the Song again, He is right here where He has always been.  Look up, focus and live!

Oh soul are you weary and troubled?
No light in the darkness you see?
There’s light for a look at the Savior
And life more abundant and free

Turn your eyes upon Jesus…

Worship and Wisdom, Psalms and Proverbs

Psalm 42, The Message

^1-3 A white-tailed deer drinks
    from the creek;
I want to drink God,
    deep draughts of God.
I’m thirsty for God-alive.
I wonder, “Will I ever make it—
    arrive and drink in God’s presence?”
I’m on a diet of tears—
    tears for breakfast, tears for supper.
All day long
    people knock at my door,
Pestering,
    “Where is this God of yours?”

⁴ These are the things I go over and over,
    emptying out the pockets of my life.
I was always at the head of the worshiping crowd,
    right out in front,
Leading them all,
    eager to arrive and worship,
Shouting praises, singing thanksgiving—
    celebrating, all of us, God’s feast!

⁵ Why are you down in the dumps, dear soul?
    Why are you crying the blues?
Fix my eyes on God—
    soon I’ll be praising again.
He puts a smile on my face.
    He’s my God.

^6-8 When my soul is in the dumps, I rehearse
    everything I know of you,
From Jordan depths to Hermon heights,
    including Mount Mizar.
Chaos calls to chaos,
    to the tune of whitewater rapids.
Your breaking surf, your thundering breakers
    crash and crush me.
Then God promises to love me all day,
    sing songs all through the night!
    My life is God’s prayer.

^9-10 Sometimes I ask God, my rock-solid God,
    “Why did you let me down?
Why am I walking around in tears,
    harassed by enemies?”
They’re out for the kill, these
    tormentors with their obscenities,
Taunting day after day,
    “Where is this God of yours?”

¹¹ Why are you down in the dumps, dear soul?
    Why are you crying the blues?
Fix my eyes on God—
    soon I’ll be praising again.
He puts a smile on my face.
    He’s my God.

TRUTH:  Fix your eyes on God and soon you will be praising again!

Proverb 17:6-8, The Message

Old people are distinguished by grandchildren;
    children take pride in their parents.

⁷ We don’t expect eloquence from fools,
    nor do we expect lies from our leaders.

⁸ Receiving a gift is like getting a rare gemstone;
    any way you look at it, you see beauty refracted.

WISDOM:  Do we get bitter or better with age?  Again, it’s how you see life.  Give, there’s real beauty in giving.  Leave a legacy of focused vision on God.

Abba Father,

My eyes look up to you for everything I need at this very hour.  You always begin my day with your love, mercy and grace.  Show me your ways and I will obey for you are the only one I trust with my life.  Thank you for changing my direction and saving my soul.  Thank you for not giving up on me when I am down.  Thank you for lifting me up as I look up.

In Jesus Name, Amen

AND then God gives us a NEW SONG…”Famous For” by Tauren Wells

There is no fear, ’cause I believe
There is no doubt, ’cause I have seen
Your faithfulness, my fortress, over and over

I have a hope found in Your name
I have a strength found in Your grace
Your faithfulness, my fortress, over and over

Make way through the waters
Walk me through the fire
Do what You are famous for
What You are famous for

Shut the mouths of lions
Bring dry bones to life and
Do what You are famous for
What You are famous for

I believe in You
God, I believe in You

Release Your love inside of me
Unleash Your power, for all to see
Spirit, come, and fall on us
Over and over, oh Lord

Make way through the waters
Walk me through the fire
Do what You are famous for
What You are famous for…

He IS my God!