Where are you looking?
When businessman Allan Emery was in the wool business, he spent a couple of nights with a shepherd on the Texas prairie.
During the night the long wail of coyotes pierced the still night air.
The shepherd’s dogs growled and peered into the darkness.
The sheep which had been sleeping, lumbered to their feet,
alarmed and bleating pitifully.
The shepherd tossed more logs onto the fire and the flames shot up.
In the glow Allan looked around him and could see thousands of tiny lights. He knew they were reflections of the fire in the eyes of the sheep.
He noted that while the dogs kept their gaze firmly towards the noise of the coyotes, the sheep were all focused in the other direction.
The sheep were AWARE of the danger, but they were FIRMLY FOCUSED in the direction of their safety. They were all looking towards the shepherd.
The coyotes were focused on the sheep.
The sheepdogs were focused on the danger – the coyotes.
The sheep were focused on safety – on the shepherd.
When faced with danger, where is our focus?
Like the dogs, do we focus on the danger?
Or like the sheep, do we focus on the means of safety – the Shepherd?
Hebrews 12: 2
“Looking unto Jesus”
Deuteronomy 33:27
“The eternal God is your refuge,
and underneath are the everlasting arms”
# Fear knocked at the door; faith answered and no one was there.
# When you fear God you have nothing else to fear.
MEETING IN THE CLOUDS 
What a fantastic illustration. Our focus should always be on the Shepherd. What a difference it would make in our day-to-day lives. Thanks for sharing such an impactful story!
LikeLike
I remember once years ago when I had a problem. I read Phil 4:6 ‘Let your requests be made known unto God’ and thought how superfluous it was to add ‘unto God’. I mean, who else?
Then the Lord convicted me. Yes, I had made them known to Him, but in my mind I was trying to organise HOW He would work things out. I thought He would use so-and-so to do such-and-such and then this-and-that might happen.
When I looked to Him – and Him only – keeping my gaze on Him, He worked out the problem His way. We invite trouble when we take our eyes OFF Him.
LikeLike
So good Angela! Through the dark night I have been walking I have made Psalm 23 a daily quote and meditation. Truly the Lord has been my shepherd and when I keep my eyes on Him I truly have everything I need! :)
LikeLike
>> “when I keep my eyes on Him I truly have everything I need” – So very true, and I know that when you come through the dark night you will be thankful for the time spent there because the Lord has used it to refine and “grow” you.
While none of us chooses to walk in troubled timers, I thank God that I can look back on the darkest nights with thankfulness.
Keep looking up because there is only dirt under your feet.
Angela
LikeLike
Hi Angela,
I’m so glad I can look unto Jesus, the author and finisher of my faith, in times of trouble! He is my refuge! He is my strength! Where can I go, but to the Lord? I don’t know what I would do, or where I would be without Him! Praise the Lord!
I’m praying for you and your husband! God bless!
Paulette
LikeLike
Thanks Paulette.
Truly, without Him we would be hopeless and helpless, but with Him we have everything and lack for nothing.
Angela
LikeLike
What a wonderfully visual reminder of the believer’s need to remain singleminded in our devotion to Christ!
This caused me to also reflect on how easily we “herd-minded” people can become panicked into stampeding right toward the danger when we take our eyes off of the Shepherd.
LikeLike
Thanks for bringing in the “herd-minded” aspect. Our young people in particular are so easily influenced by the herd.
“Fill my eyes O my God with a vision of the cross.
Fill my heart with love for Jesus the Nazarene.
Fill my mouth with Your praise;
Let me sing through endless days
Take my will, let my life be wholly Thine”
lyrics: Ken Chant
LikeLike
Thanks, Angela :-)
God has spoken! ;-)
Thanks for reminding us where to look in times of trouble. “The Lord is my Shepherd”
Blessings,
ann
LikeLike
And what a Shepherd! A Shepherd who is ALWAYS on guard for His sheep and NEVER fails us, even though we are prone to wander.
LikeLike
Dear Angela! What a great story to share and lesson for us to learn! God bless you as you focus on your Shepherd and help us to too!
LikeLike
Hi Debbie
There is life for a look at the crucified One – an abundant life; an adventurous life; a victorious life!
What a Saviour!
Angela
LikeLike