I truly want to write something for the New Year that will inspire and give people hope. No matter what happens with Covid-19, vaccines and distribution of the vaccines, or who occupies the White House, I do believe hope and peace can exist in a world of turmoil. I believe this because it is written in God’s Word. But, what is the formula?
As much as I thought about it and as much as I prayed about it, only one thing kept coming to my mind. But, there was a slight problem with what was coming to mind; it had already been written, and not by me. It was written in 1922 by Helen Lemmel. But, actually, someone had already written about it before she took her pen to the page.
Helen Lemmel was inspired by a gospel tract she had picked up that was written by Lilias Trotter, a missionary to Algeria. In her missionary duties, Miss Trotter was having great difficulty keeping her focus on Jesus. She wrote the tract with the following encouragement, not only to give others advice, but also as a reminder to herself to follow her own advice. “Turn full your soul’s vision to Jesus, and look and look at Him, and a strange dimness will come over all that is apart from Him…”
This wonderful tract birthed the song, “Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus,” with the lyrics, “Turn your eyes upon Jesus, look full in His wonderful face, and the things of earth will grow strangely dim, in the light of His glory and grace.” This is true and it is a guaranteed formula for success. You can be and will be successfully full of joy, peace, hope and light in a very dark world.
I once heard Miss Kathryn Kuhlman teach on 2 Corinthians 4:6. I can still hear her today, as if it was just yesterday, reading, “For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, has shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.” Then, she taught this most remarkable truth as she simply said, “The face of Jesus Christ is the Word of God.”
“Turn your eyes upon Jesus, look full in His wonderful face.” All you need to do is open your Bible to read and receive everything you desire and more, as written on those wonderful pages. His Word was spoken and written. We need to allow the Holy Spirit to write His Word on our hearts daily and we need to speak His Word from our lips; and, from the very depths of our soul, we need to love His Word. Trust me, if you allow the Holy Spirit to do this work in you, the things of this world will grow strangely dim as you continue to LOOK UPON HIM.