Jesus welcomed the people, taught them about the Kingdom of God and healed those in need. Luke 9:11

Seeds of the Kingdom

What Do You See?

by Jilly Lyon-Taylor

The word of the LORD came to me: ‘What do you see, Jeremiah?’ ‘I see the branch of an almond tree,’ I replied. The LORD said to me, ‘You have seen correctly, for I am watching to see that my word is fulfilled.'

Often when I am walking my dog in the countryside, God speaks to me through what I see. However, I wonder how often He is wanting to show me something but I am too preoccupied with my own thoughts or concerns to notice what He is saying!

Several times in the first chapter of Jeremiah the Lord uses the word “See”. He asks Jeremiah in today’s verses, “What do you see?” There then follows a play on words, because the Hebrew for almond tree is very similar to the one for watching. God wants Jeremiah to notice the almond tree to remind him that He is watching over His word to fulfil it.

God’s word is fixed and firm, and His promises will never fail. However, we sometimes need reminding to hold on to them in faith, trusting that God will see that they are fulfilled. We need to see with the eyes of faith what God is doing, but often all we see are the troubles and difficulties that beset us all.

When Moses sent representatives of the tribes of Israel into the Promised Land, to spy it out and report back, there were ten of them who could only see negatives (Numbers 13-14). They didn’t see the fruitfulness of the land, or the fact that they would be going with God’s protection and power. All they could see were the obstacles and their own inferiority – that the people seemed like giants and that they seemed like grasshoppers in comparison! They were definitely “glass half empty” people!

What about you today? What do you see? Do you see the glass as half full or half empty? Are you focussing on the trials and difficulties in your life, or do you see God, knowing that He is at work, watching over His word for your life to fulfil it? Perhaps there is something He wants to show you today.

Prayer: Lord, please forgive me for focusing on the problems in my life, rather than on You. I want to see things as You see them, and to know that You are watching over Your word for my life to see it fulfilled. Thank You for all Your promises. I trust You. Amen.

Jilly Lyon-Taylor is part of the Leadership Team at Ellel Pierrepont. She worked in publishing and then with children in Hong Kong before concentrating on being a full-time mother and serving in the local church. Her desire to see people healed led her to the Luke Nine Eleven Training Scheme(NETS) at Pierrepont, and now she teaches and ministers there.

 

Sign Up Now

Please feel free to use this devotional to send on to your friends or share with your church fellowship. Provided full acknowledgement is made to Seeds of the Kingdom as the source, you are also welcome to use it in a non-commercial way and reproduce it in magazines or other Christian websites. The copyright for any commercial use of the material remains with Ellel Ministries International.

In this book, Ed Roebert teaches what the Bible sa...
130 daily teachings for a journey of radical and a...
Many forms of alternative therapies are available ...
Special Pack includes DVD 6-disc box set, 4x study...
Sarah Shaw had a successful career as a manager in retail business. But she came to a point when she could no longer keep up appearances, by controlling her tormented inner world. So damaged was she by the consequences of childhood abuse, that she was...
The DVD series, together with this study guide and...
Peter Horrobin uses real-life testimonies, parables and illustrations to unlock some of the most difficult theological and life issues that often make us stumble through our Christian walk. This 18-part DVD series is an inspirational whistle-stop tour...
Denise Cross gets to the roots of why we feel rejected and how we can overcome the power it often has, sometimes unwittingly, over our lives. Use this book to walk a path of self-acceptance and breathe new life into your relationship with others and with...
In this book, Jack Hayford teaches what the Bible ...
In this book, Bob Gordon teaches what the Bible sa...