For the eyes of the Lord are toward the righteous

 God watches, listens, and protects:

 

            His eyes are upon the righteous:

 

1 Peter 3:12

12 “For the eyes of the Lord are toward the righteous …

 

            If God’s eyes are upon us, then nothing can sneak up on us without God warning us. We need to always stay attuned to His speaking to us. He is ever watchful over us. He will send us aid even before it is needed. We just need to be sensitive to His directing our lives. It even says in Psalm 34:15 that His eyes are toward us, the righteous.

 

If you could hear God speak, I believe this is what He would say:

            "My children, My eyes are always upon you; for I watch over you day and night for your good and not for ill. I would have you know that My heart is ever towards you and that I will not allow the unrighteous to prevail over you as long as you trust in Me. I will keep watch over you by day and by night to ensure that you will be victorious in life. Trust in Me to watch over you. Rest in My promises and do not fear those that would oppose you.” 

 

            17. Through Jesus inside me, I am righteous. Therefore, God’s eyes are upon me.

If God is for us, who is against us?

 God works for us:

 

            Who can be against us?

 

Romans 8:31

31 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who is against us?

 

            God is on our side! He always works together with us to bring about what is best for His Kingdom and for us. So, if He is for us, who can be against us? One thing is for sure, it shouldn’t be His people. Of course, the enemy of our souls, the accuser of the brethren, is against us. We’re supposed to resist him. Remember that our warfare is not against flesh and blood but against those forces of the enemy that would attack us and God’s Kingdom. As long as we know whom we’re fighting, we can overcome. It’s not that person that is attacking us, but rather the forces of the enemy.

            Now we need to make sure that we don’t go too far in that direction. It is not always some demonic force that is influencing some person to afflict us. Sometimes it is just the flesh of that person that is not submitted to the Holy Spirit that is in operation. If so, we can rebuke the devil till the cows come home, and nothing will happen.

 

If you could hear God speak, I believe this is what He would say:

            "Do not think that you are alone My children. I am with you always. I am always on your side. I will work through you and for you if you allow Me to do so. Do not fear what man can do to you. He can do nothing as long as you walk in Me, and allow My Spirit to control your life. No power of the enemy can harm you while you are in My care.”

 

            16. God is for me. Therefore, no one or thing that matters can be against me. Since He is for me, I cannot fail!

We have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to His purpose who works all things after the counsel of His will

 Obtained an inheritance:

 

Ephesians 1:11-12

11 also we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to His purpose who works all things after the counsel of His will,

12 to the end that we who were the first to hope in Christ would be to the praise of His glory.

 

            We have already obtained an inheritance. It’s not something to come some day in the sweet bye-and-bye. It is in the nasty now-and-now. This says we have been predestined for this. We’re not getting into a discussion about predestination versus free will.

            God desired for us to obtain an inheritance, and He saw to it that we did (He worked it after the counsel of His will … that means He wanted it to happen). Why were we to obtain an inheritance? So that we would be to the praise of His glory. There is nothing glorious about being sick or in poverty. Who wants to become a part of a group that has that as their common bond? It has to be great if it is to the praise of His glory.

 

If you could hear God speak, I believe this is what He would say:

            "You have an inheritance already, My children. It is one that has been promised to those who believe in Me. You were destined for this, and you shall receive it in due season. I desired for all My children to obtain this inheritance and have given it to them. Not all will operate in that inheritance, but it is available to them. I gave this to you that all men may see My glory in you and desire to become My children too.”

 

            15. I have already obtained an inheritance, some of which I will enjoy while I am here on earth, and the rest when He returns.

 Heirs of the Father:

 

            Heirs according to promise:

 

Galatians 3:29

29 And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s descendants, heirs according to promise.

 

            We belong to Christ. Therefore, we are Abraham’s descendants. Now that does not necessarily mean his descendant according to the flesh, but rather according to the faith of Abraham. We are his descendants spiritually. Since we are his descendants, this means we are also his heirs according to the promise of God. Too many Christians, though, are living like they are heirs of some pauper. In other words, they are not expecting to get anything in this life, but rather they are expecting to have to always give something to everyone else.

            Now some believe they are heirs, but that the inheritance is only spiritual. This is not the case. It is both physical and spiritual. There is nothing wrong with believing God will bless us physically. If we are physically and financially well off, we are better able to do the work of God and to help His Kingdom grow. He didn’t bless us so that we could spend it only on ourselves. It is to help others.

 

If you could hear God speak, I believe this is what He would say:

            "You are Mine little children. All that I have is yours. What I have given to Abraham is also yours. He was the first to hope in Me. You will inherit the promises I made to him as you walk in the faith that he had. He believed Me and through that inherited magnificent promises. If you believe Me like he did, you too will inherit the same promises. You will truly be like your father Abraham.”

 

            14. He has made me part of Abraham’s offspring. Therefore, I am an heir according to His promise which can never fail.

I have made Your name known to them, and will make it known, so that the love with which You loved Me may be in them, and I in them

 Makes His name known:

 

John 17:26

26 and I have made Your name known to them, and will make it known, so that the love with which You loved Me may be in them, and I in them.”

 

            Jesus makes the Father’s name known to us. We don’t have to wonder any longer who our Father is. It says that the reason He does this is so that the love the Father had for the Son may be in us along with Jesus Himself being inside us.

            Many people love others because of something those people do for them. God loves us in spite of all the things we have done against Him in the past.

 

If you could hear God speak, I believe this is what He would say:

            "You know Me and you know My name. It is through My name that your power comes. It is through My name that all things take place; for it is in My name that you will do the greater works than I did. You cannot do anything unless it is in My name. My name is the authority that you operate in. Through it, all the powers of the enemy must submit to you. If you operate in your own name and authority, nothing will happen.”

 

            13. Because of His love for me, He has made His name known unto me.