The Watchful Eye
January 2006
The Lord leads with unfailing love and faithfulness. . . - Psalm 25:10
Jerry Jr., nicknamed JC, is my little one. I have to watch him closely because He is fast. Unlike my older son Jackson who is cautious and skeptical of anyone or anything he is not familiar and always stays near to me, this one moves like a flash of light. He loves to run, mostly in the opposite direction of me. When we are on the play ground, in the mall or at the grocery store most of my energy is spent with a watchful eye on him.
My most frightening times have come during this season of his life. I don?t seem to have the ease that other mother's of more than one child seem to have when keeping an eye on all of them at the same time. I am often scared to tears when JC gets away from me and I turn around to find that he is gone. To make matters worse, at 16 months old he seems to think he doesn't need me anymore. So, he climbs up the slide and wants to come back down on his tummy. He refuses my help as he scampers to the steepest point of the jungle gym at the park. I stand near by with my heart racing, palms sweating and feet prepared for a quick dash to catch him when he falls. During these times of energetic play, I watch his every move. I assist from the sidelines with counsel, pointing out what step he should take next and where he can hold on for more stability. I call out to him every now and then to let him know that I can see him clearly and that I am here if and when he decides that he needs me. I calculate how long it will take him to get from one side of the jungle gym to the other so that I can meet him on the other end with outstretched arms. Each step is closely monitored by my roving eye. Is he too close to the edge? Are his feet firmly planted on that step? In fact, my mind is already two steps ahead of him. I can anticipate based on his movement and direction whether or not his next step will be steady enough to keep him from falling. I can tell if he will need me before he has even lifted his leg to move forward. My watchful eye, considers every move and I do not take it off of him.
In Psalm 32, God tells David, "I will counsel you with my eye upon you." He clearly wants the Psalmist to understand that his direction will not be given once with no follow-up throughout the journey. God understands that much like my toddler, David is in need of more then intermittent supervision. He promises a consistent and permanent watchful eye. His is faithful to continually lead us. He does not send us out alone with no means of continuous communication and guidance. On the contrary, Scriptures makes clear His commitment to continually and specifically guide His children.
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The
Lord in His mercy will lead them beside still waters -
Isaiah 49:10 |
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He
leads the humble in what is right, teaching them His way
- Psalm25:9 |
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The
Lord watches over those who fear Him -Psalm 33:18 |
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Your
ears will hear a voice behind you, 'This is the way, walk
in it, whenever you turn to the right or to the left.'
- Isaiah 30:21 |
The picture painted of our God from the Old Testament to the New is of a generous Savior who seeks to give specific and on going direction to those to whom He loves. He stands near by, watching every career move, step in ministry, relational endeavor and financial directive. He sees every fumble and mishap and even anticipates your next move before you have made it. He knows when you will need to be caught even before you fall. Like me, standing near to my precious little one, He is standing nearby. He calls out to you to make sure you know He is near when and if you should ever choose to reach out to Him. He eagerly waits to be more than just your Savior but also your counselor and guide. He wants to hold your hand, steady you and give you his counsel. Why do we scamper away from Him and feel in our infancy that we can do things on our own? Thankfully, His watchful eye is upon us. As you embark on a brand new year filled to the brim with brand new experiences, I pray that you will not ignore but embrace, cherish and take full advantage of the watchful eye that continues to guide.
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