After supper one night, I walked out the back door with an ice cream bar in my hand. My dog, Archie, was in the backyard, sitting under the shade trees with my wife. When he saw the ice cream, he trotted towards me. Anytime I walk outside with any kind of dessert in my hand, I almost always give him just a smidgen of it. But, because he had some food allergies we were concerned about, I told him he wasn’t getting any this time.
He stood there and looked at me. He didn’t look at the ice cream bar … he looked directly into my eyes. I watched his eyes. I didn’t see them move toward the ice cream bar, not even for a second. He was completely focused on me. I said to him again, “I can’t give you any tonight, this might not be good for you.” My wife said, “It’s non-dairy, so it won’t bother him.” I looked back at Archie. He was standing still, eyes still completely focused on me. I’ve had other pets that would look at the food I was eating and stare at it, and drool, just hoping they’d get a morsel. There was something about the way Archie looked at me that changed my resolve. I told him, “You know what? I’m going to give you some of this, not because you want it so much, but because you were focused on me and not on the ice cream.”
As I said those words, it felt just like something God would say to one of His children. As a matter of fact, it sounded a lot like my favorite verse from the Bible – “Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added unto you” (Matthew 6:33). In that moment, I had a better picture of what that verse means.
Child of God, I know there are things that you want in life. There are desires you have that you are hoping and praying will be fulfilled. Everything you could ever want or need is IN GOD’S HANDS. The key is to not focus on what He’s holding in His hands … you must focus on GOD’S FACE instead. When He sees that you’re focused on Him, not on the “things,” I believe His heart is moved to bless you, and to give you the things you desire.
Keep your eyes focused on Him, first and foremost. Seek the Master’s Face … not the Master’s Hand.
Psalm 37:4 (ESV)
Delight yourself in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart.
