“But as for me, I watch in hope for the LORD, I wait for God my Savior; my God will hear me.”

Micah 7:7

“Protect your eyes.” That has been a constant refrain in our house through the years. I believe it was the wisdom of Nanny, Deanna’s Grandma, from her early years. Today it is the teaching and wisdom that we share regularly. Protect your eyes is not about safety goggles while working in the shop. It is about being mindful of what you look at and what your eyes see.

It is the refrain we use when we are choosing movies and when we search the internet. Newsflash—I’m not sure if you are aware. There are lots of things that pass as entertainment today that are not edifying. And there are a couple of things floating around on the internet that you probably don’t want to see.

Protecting our eyes is about staying vigilant. It is about being intentional with the things you look at and the places you seek out. 

What do you give your attention to these days? Is it things that uplift and bring life? Or are you sucked into the things that amplify anxiety and capitalize on chaos. There are certainly no shortage of anxiety inducing chaos these days. Welcome to our politicized world. And we are still over a month away from the election. All the while knowing that, whatever the outcome, political rhetoric isn’t going away any time soon. 

Where you look—that’s where you focus. So, what are you focused on?

Now this doesn’t mean that you never get to look at hard things or challenging ideas that are contrary to your own. Protecting your eyes isn’t about creating an echo chamber. Nor is it about harnessing a pollyanna positivity that is poorly equipped for the real world. Do hard things. Talk with people that believe different things than you do. Be challenged. Lean in to other people’s hardships and help them. Protecting your eyes isn’t about never seeing the underbelly of this life. But, it is about focusing on the good and looking for hope.

This is what the prophet Micah tells us. The entire book of Micah has two themes. Judgement and salvation. And, most of the book is about God’s judgement. It is a harsh prophetic book where, symbolically, the Lord puts Israel on trial for the crime of failing to be faithful. And, there is plenty of evidence to convict. The message is clear. God’s verdict is coming down and it is coming down hard. 

But, as is often the case in the psalms and other places where God’s judgement is laid before us, there is a last minute word of hope. There is a shift. The darkness fades under the glory of our God who remembers. There is forgiveness. There is deliverance. There is hope. This is the context of Micah 7:7. The preceding chapters continue a laundry list of misdeeds and unfaithful actions by the nation of Israel. Things are ugly and the outlook is bleak. Verse 7 is when the tide turns. Here our eyes are lifted up to gaze upon the Almighty One who delivers.

But Micah, with resolve and the right amount of defiance, sets his gaze upon the horizon of God’s hope. Micah chooses to see light in the midst of the darkness.

Make no mistake, there was plenty of places for Micah to focus his eyes. The people had turned from their first love. They had developed confidence in themselves and turned towards others to bring them healing and wholeness. But, in this moment, his eyes are focused on the Lord. 

What about you? There are so many places that are vying for your attention. There are so many difficult circumstances and challenging situations that leave you with such a spirit of helplessness and despair. Are you overwhelmed? 

Helpless and hopeless is not what the Lord desires for you. It isn’t what you want for yourself either. 

Hear the defiant and resolute declaration of Micah. Make it your own today. “But as for me, I watch in hope for the Lord, I wait for God my Savior, my God will hear me.”

Now, head into your day with this hope. With this confidence. With this conviction. For, the Lord your God has heard you. And He is for you. Always.

Pay attention to what grabs your attention today. And do something small to point this focus towards the Lord a little more often.