Huff and puff, I still stand

God is keeping careful watch over us and the future. (I Peter 1:3 MSG)

I cannot help but think that someone needs to hear this today. God is keeping his watch over our lives - regardless of what we may see happening around us that seems to indicate he has 'slacked' in his watchfulness and care. The present and the future are both in his hands. We can never forget this fact. We don't rely upon a changeable God - his power is unchanging as is his presence with us as we navigate through life.

Living with a fear that God may abandon us is a message straight out of the pit of hell. God can no more abandon one of his children than we can take the earth out of its orbit by blowing into the wind. The oversight of God in our lives isn't diminished because evil abounds. We may feel like the pressures of life have overtaken us, but we are still clearly in his hands. While the devil tries to 'huff and puff' and blow our house down, God's right hand is holding us secure.

What does it mean for God to have 'oversight' or 'careful watch' over our lives? Proverbs 15:3 reminds us, "God doesn’t miss a thing— he’s alert to good and evil alike." Psalm 121:7-8 tells us, "God guards you from every evil, he guards your very life. He guards you when you leave and when you return, he guards you now, he guards you always." The faithfulness of God is never failing - his eyes are on those who know and serve him.

‘You’re my servant, serving on my side. I’ve picked you. I haven’t dropped you.’ Don’t panic. I’m with you. There’s no need to fear for I’m your God. I’ll give you strength. I’ll help you. I’ll hold you steady, keep a firm grip on you. (Isaiah 41:9-10) The world attempts to get us into a 'panic mode' so we will take our eyes off of God - remember that he has picked you, will never 'drop you' from his care - so there is no need for panic.

2 Chronicles 16:9 tells us, "For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to give strong support to those whose heart is blameless toward him." Strong support - not weak kneed, feeble minded, on again/off again support. Continual, strong support with the full backing of all his heavenly hosts behind that support! We might think we are in this fight alone - but every battle begun in faith, believing that he will be with us throughout that battle, is a battle won because of his power and might. Just sayin!