Eyes Up

Meditations on

Staying In the Grace for Today 

September 19, 2025

Eyes Up

You love him even though you have never seen him.

Though you do not see him now, you trust him;

and you rejoice with a glorious, inexpressible joy.

1 Peter 1:8 

I read an article some time ago that discussed the emotional dynamics of mountain climbers. The article noted that when clouds eclipsed their view of the mountain peak, the climbers were downcast, even sullen. However, when no clouds covered the mountain peak the climbers were more energetic and excited about their venture.

The same emotional swing can be true of us. When our eyes are consciously on Jesus, we tend to be more optimistic, positive and filled with anticipation of how God may use our devotion. But, when our eyes are cast downward and focused on the cares of our lives, we lose our childlike wonder of being the beloved child of God. The Apostle Paul wrote about this in Colossians 1, and I think Eugene Peterson’s translation truly captures Paul’s heart:

“So if you’re serious about living this new resurrection life with Christ, act like it. Pursue the things over which Christ presides. Don’t shuffle along, eyes to the ground, absorbed with the things right in front of you. Look up, and be alert to what is going on around Christ—that’s where the action is. See things from his perspective.” (Colossians 1:1-2 The Message) 

My Takeaway: My evening, bedtime prayer also captures Paul’s heart: “Guide us waking, O Lord, and guard us sleeping; that awake we may watch with Christ, and asleep we may rest us peace.”

Sē’lah

My book on prayer,

First Think, Then Pray

is now available on Amazon Kindle.

 

(Selah is a word that appears in the Book of Psalms that I often use as the Complimentary Closing in my correspondence. Its meaning, as I use the word, is to pause and think about these things.)

 

These meditations are written by Alex M. Knight as he seeks the life in Christ as his way of life.  The meditations are published on the BLOG, http://seekingthelifeinchrist.blogspot.com/ and they are also distributed on the Constant Contact email server. You may subscribe to this email service by sending an email to: amkrom812@gmail.com.

 

Copyright © 2025 by Alex M. Knight

 

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.