Eyes On Me!

"I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my loving eye on you. Do not be like the horse or the mule, which have no understanding but must be controlled by bit and bridle or they will not come to you" (Psalm 32:8,9 NIV).

There are so many eyes--looking upon everything we do--judging, evaluating, assessing, criticizing, not knowing who we really are or who is guiding us. Or do they?
If the Lord is giving us instruction, and teaching us how to get to the destination He has planned for us, and counseling us as we journey in life, we have no need to be concerned about what others see--for they will only see our willing obedience to God, doing what must be done to obtain the goal.  
However, whatever we do, whatever others see--will determine whether we need to be "controlled or forced" to do something.

In spite of what many think, our obedience to God is out of a desire to please Him, not because He forces us to do anything. If we have a heart for God and we are hearing Him, we know that He only wants the best for us and we only want to please Him.

For those who do not understand God's love or His plans, His Word will seem harsh and brash and controlling. But God--never forces or controls us to do anything--He gives us freewill to choose and to accept the consequences of our actions. When we choose not to understand or hear Him, we are left with those entities that will control--demonic spirits that lead us down the opposite paths of those God wants us to travel.

On the path to hell (and it is real), everything glitters and has much more appeal to our senses--sight, smell, feel, taste, hearing--it all looks good, smells good, feels good, tastes good and sounds good, but is it--all good? NO! The enemy deliberately makes everything that opposes God look better than anything God wants us to have because he--the devil--wants us to be miserable and to hate God.

Not convinced of the devil's controlling influence? Take a good look around at our society--at those who are influenced by greed, drugs, and all other lusts of the flesh. The gambling looked good--easy money--until it's all gone and now people have to steal to support their habit. The same is true with drugs and alcohol--controlling substances. On a personal level--hygiene takes a backseat to fulfilling the desires and cravings of those things which control the mind and behavior.

Feelings and cravings in the lower extremities of bodies control--making sexual appeal for anyone more desirable and pleasurable than doing things God's way. Even food controls--for those who lack discipline and self-control, overeating--which leads to health problems and early deaths. Oh, yes--the enemy controls, but God instructs, teaches, and counsels and leaves it up to us to hear and obey.

Whose eyes are upon you, today--the loving eyes of the Lord or the gleaming eyes of the devil? They know and we should, too--just by looking at what we do!