Lift Your Head
Written By: Kate Belford
Have you ever felt like you were wandering in the wilderness? Unsure of where you were our are going in life? Living on auto-pilot and feeling stuck? I myself have experienced these same thoughts and feelings. You are not alone. It’s easy to get caught up in the schedules, to-do lists (that never end) and the circumstances we face. I am here to encourage you to look up. Lift your head!
In Paul’s letter to the church in Colossae he encouraged them by writing “since then you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not earthly things” (Colossians 3:1-2) When we actively look up our posture changes. In the natural, it calms our bodies and we are able to breathe more freely. It opens the posture of our hearts to Him who is Lord over our life. The Prince of Peace is restoring our souls and transforming our thoughts when we become intentional with how we live our lives. When we look down, we live our lives focused on ourselves, not seeing what is happening around us and distracted from what the Lord is offering to us. This Keeps us in bondage and not walking in the true freedom that we received from Jesus Christ.
Think about our phones for instance. How many of us look with our heads down at our phones on a daily basis? While its not all “bad” it can distract us from being present in our relationships. Our phones have our appointments, schedules, and messages, emails, social media, and games, shopping, banking, and music. Anything and everything is available right at our fingertips. To be honest friends, I was prompted to delete my Instagram app on my phone because the Holy Spirit convicted me that it was consuming too much of my time. Although most of my feed was accounts sharing Gods word, I would get distracted in the scrolling and need for more. I had even heard from my children that I was always on my phone. Yikes! I believe the Lord wanted me to go straight to Him and His Word to stay connected. I also want to remind you friends that we each have our own convictions and I am just honestly, sharing one of mine. I am on this journey with you!
Jesus says “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing” (John 15:5). Staying in relationship with Jesus is our source of life and joy (John 15:11). It can be pretty exhausting doing it all in our own strength. When He fills our cup to overflow, our hearts are motivated to keep looking up. Even if our circumstances aren’t changing, Jesus is changing us from the inside out. Transforming us into His image with ever-increasing glory (2 Corinthians 3:18).
When gardening it’s important to prune your plant to grow more fruit and this is also true for us. As Jesus changes and transforms us, He is pruning us. Getting rid of the things, fears, habits, or behaviors that do not serve us well to bring us closer to Him. Some of those things are what causes us to look down. While pruning feels painful at times, in the end its for our good and His glory.
My friends, I know it is not easy being a sojourner when we know we are citizens of heaven (Philippians 3:20). Be encouraged to lift your head! Stay connected to the Vine. Bring heaven to earth, with Jesus as our example and by the power of the Holy Spirit that lives within us. “Let us not grow weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up” (Galatians 6:9). DO NOT GIVE UP! Jesus says “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life” (John 8:12). And in Matthew 5:14-16, Jesus instructs “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead, they put it on its stand and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your goods deeds and glorify your Father in heaven”. When we follow Jesus and remain in Him, we have life and we are able to shine that abundant life (John 10:10) to others that glorify Him.
Our relationship with Jesus flows into our relationships with others. It humbles us and takes our thoughts and feelings of our wanderings to thoughts and feelings that bring His kingdom to earth as it is in Heaven. To share with others God’s love and faithfulness by the power of the Holy Spirit and with the power of our testimonies. Child of God, you have a great purpose while you are here on earth. Lift your head, you will taste and see that the Lord is good (Psalm 34:8).
“Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord rises upon you. See, darkness covers the earth and thick darkness is over the peoples, but the Lord rises upon you and his glory appears over you. Nations will come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your dawn” (Isaiah 60:1-3).
Heavenly Father, I thank you that you are good. You do not leave us or forsake us but lead us to the way of everlasting. You invite us to come and drink from the well that never runs dry. We pray that we will continually lift our heads and hearts to You, allowing You to move in our lives in ways we have never let You before. Transform us. Let us be a light for You in our families, communities, and everywhere we go. Lord, we ask you would give us boldness and compassion as we move forward in Your plans and purposes. In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.
Read and Pray through Psalm 3:3-4.
I invite you to physically look up. Do you find that it changes your heart posture and thoughts? Write down what the Holy Spirit reveals to you.
Ephesians 2:10 says “For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do”. Do you have any distractions, habits, and/or fears in your life that are keeping you from walking in the fullness of your calling? I encourage you to take time and ask the Lord this question and to surrender to Him what is revealed.