“I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my eye upon you.” (Psalm 32:8, ESV)
As a young boy weaved his way around the playroom with the other children, his mother’s eye did not waiver. She might look to her son’s left or right, but she always had her eye upon his situation. Joanne’s son, James, had been born with Optical Nerve Hypoplasia (ONH). Because of this, his eyesight was poor. James couldn’t see things that others might avoid, like water spilled on a slippery floor or ice on the sidewalk. Because of his disability, Joanne always kept an eye out for her son. She would often see danger long before it overtook her boy. Her eyes were on a constant vigil to protect her beautiful son.
In the same way that Joanne watches out for her disabled son, God watches out for you. God watches over your situation and keeps alert to your needs. Psalm 32:8 gives clear evidence of this aspect of God’s character. In Psalm 32:8, David wrote of something God taught to him. David relied on what God revealed. God would “instruct” David, “teaching him the way he should go”. God knew what kinds of instruction David needed, because God’s “eye” was “upon him”. God’s watchful eye would glean the best kinds of instruction for David. God’s vision could see the best course of action.
There are many people who know what it’s like to keep an eye out for someone else. Fathers and mothers are constantly watching over their children. Police know to keep an eye out for intruders and for the safety of their neighborhood. Teachers monitor the classroom, constantly aware of the needs and tendencies of the children in their care. Any good pastor will tell you that he or she prays for the needs of others. They often know what to pray for even before you inform them.
“Near the end of his propulsion electrician watch on April 7 and in the middle of his last hourly patrol of his inspection route, Electricians Mate Nuclear 2nd Class Lucas Leosewski caught the smell. Sharp, acrid — an electrical fire on the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower at Norfolk Naval Shipyard. “You could tell immediately what it was,” he said. “I followed my nose and it led me to a transformer that was billowing smoke” the next deck up. “I didn’t freak out. But yeah, the adrenaline started straight away. But I knew what I had to do. I knew who I had to tell, and I just did it.”
And so set off the response to one of the biggest worries of any sailor, especially on a ship like the Eisenhower that’s in the shipyard for maintenance and repair work. Leosewski raced for the nearest communications handset to call in the fire. He rattled off his report, per the book: Fire. Electrical. White Smoke, deck and space number. Then, he started the sprint, halfway along the 1,090-foot length of the carrier, to the control center where he could cut power to that part of the electrical system. “We drill on this all the time; load center drill every week I’ve been on the ship,” Leosewski said. “Three years, every week.”
This time, shipmate John Hart, an Electricians Mate Nuclear 3rd Class, was closer to the load center. “I was able to immediately shut down load center 11,” said Hart. “I know Leosewski would be running back to turn it off himself, but I reported that I was in the area and shut it down. This is why we do so many drills. We’ve practiced this countless times.” (Dailypress.com article 4/29/2022)
Because Lucas Leosewski and John Hart were attentive, the Aircraft Carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower was saved from a serious fire at the Norfolk Naval Shipyard. Many do not know this, but small fires aboard ship can turn disastrous. A fire on the USS Bonhomme Richard in 2021 cost billions of dollars and led to the vessel being scrapped! The Russian corvette Provorny caught fire at port during repairs. Some say it will take five years for the ship to be rebuilt due to the extensive damage. Civilian ships are also in danger of fires when in the shipyard for repairs. The Odyssey of the Seas cruise ship was delayed for months, and costs bloomed after a common welding-induced fire. But, with sailors like Leosewski and Hart watching over repairs on the Dwight D. Eisenhower, a shipboard fire was never able to gain momentum. Their quick reactions may have saved the ship!
It’s nice to know that there are highly capable people watching over very important things in our world. The Secret Service protects United States’ presidents. U.S. Marines watch over the safety and security of United States Embassies world over. Firemen sleep at the firehouse, ready at a moment’s notice to dress up and save homes, property, and people. Who else watches over you?
Some of you may know that I am the proud master of a German Shepherd Dog. Charley is her name. Charley and I have probably walked three or four hundred miles together in her lifetime. She is a rescue from the Kentucky-Tennessee border area. Though someone may have discarded her as a young pup, I am thrilled to be her best friend. When we are out walking, I know she keeps an eye out for dangers. I know she protects me.
One afternoon, while out on a walk, Charley stopped suddenly. I ran right into her, wondering why in the world she had stopped. It wasn’t like her to stop suddenly and put me in danger of falling. I looked over at her and noticed she had a serious look about her. She was dead still, with a quiet, slow growl starting to escape her mouth. Her tail was slowly coming up erect. Something was wrong. I couldn’t see it, but something was wrong. She sensed danger.
Then, blasting out of a bushy wooded area, a huge dog came running at me from the side. Charley immediately moved to my left and stood there between me and the large dog bearing down upon us. As I turned to see the dog charging us, I fell. Being disabled, I couldn’t get up quick enough to defend myself. It didn’t matter. Charley kept between me and the threat. She didn’t move. I could see, though, that every tooth was barred. She was going to stand there and protect me with her last breath. The crazed dog stopped five feet from us and growled for a few seconds, then turned and ran back into the wooded area. I’m sure it didn’t want to take on my Charley. I have never seen that menacing dog since. That dog looked sickly and mean. Did it have rabies? Would it have attacked me if Charley wouldn’t have been there? I’m not sure. What I do know is that Charley watched over me that day. Her eye was dead set on keeping me safe.
One of the greatest things for you to remember is that God’s eye is also upon you! As expressed in the scripture for today, God is constantly on watch over your care. According to David, God not only watches over you but will “counsel” you as you need it. God will “instruct you” on which path to take in life. God will guard your ways. All you have to do is learn to listen for God’s voice and look for God’s cues. If you can just keep your focus on God, God will keep watch ahead for dangers.
Upon reading Psalm 32:8, Bill Bright commented:
How refreshing to know that our God keeps an eye on each one of us as His children. He knows the way we are going; He knows the way we should take—and with His watchful eye He promises to instruct us and to teach us.
On some subjects, full directions and plain commands are not always given in the Word of God. In such cases, we must be especially sensitive to [God’s] guiding eye.
Similarly, we apply the truth of this passage to the truth of a particular providence. God’s guiding us with His eye often indicates to us His will by means of providential events. When we live and walk in the Spirit, by faith, we recognize His guiding eye.” (from Promises: A Daily Guide to Supernatural Living)
Do you recognize God’s guiding eye? Are you attuned to God’s leading? Do you heed God’s warnings and press on when God wills it? Learn to trust God’s guiding eye. Your Savior will not let you down!
In the same way that Joanne watches out for her disabled son, God watches out for you. God watches over your situation and keeps alert to your needs. Psalm 32:8 gives clear evidence of this aspect of God’s character. In Psalm 32:8, David wrote of something God taught to him. David relied on what God revealed. God would “instruct” David, “teaching him the way he should go”. God knew what kinds of instruction David needed, because God’s “eye” was “upon him”. God’s watchful eye would glean the best kinds of instruction for David. God’s vision could see the best course of action.
There are many people who know what it’s like to keep an eye out for someone else. Fathers and mothers are constantly watching over their children. Police know to keep an eye out for intruders and for the safety of their neighborhood. Teachers monitor the classroom, constantly aware of the needs and tendencies of the children in their care. Any good pastor will tell you that he or she prays for the needs of others. They often know what to pray for even before you inform them.
“Near the end of his propulsion electrician watch on April 7 and in the middle of his last hourly patrol of his inspection route, Electricians Mate Nuclear 2nd Class Lucas Leosewski caught the smell. Sharp, acrid — an electrical fire on the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower at Norfolk Naval Shipyard. “You could tell immediately what it was,” he said. “I followed my nose and it led me to a transformer that was billowing smoke” the next deck up. “I didn’t freak out. But yeah, the adrenaline started straight away. But I knew what I had to do. I knew who I had to tell, and I just did it.”
And so set off the response to one of the biggest worries of any sailor, especially on a ship like the Eisenhower that’s in the shipyard for maintenance and repair work. Leosewski raced for the nearest communications handset to call in the fire. He rattled off his report, per the book: Fire. Electrical. White Smoke, deck and space number. Then, he started the sprint, halfway along the 1,090-foot length of the carrier, to the control center where he could cut power to that part of the electrical system. “We drill on this all the time; load center drill every week I’ve been on the ship,” Leosewski said. “Three years, every week.”
This time, shipmate John Hart, an Electricians Mate Nuclear 3rd Class, was closer to the load center. “I was able to immediately shut down load center 11,” said Hart. “I know Leosewski would be running back to turn it off himself, but I reported that I was in the area and shut it down. This is why we do so many drills. We’ve practiced this countless times.” (Dailypress.com article 4/29/2022)
Because Lucas Leosewski and John Hart were attentive, the Aircraft Carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower was saved from a serious fire at the Norfolk Naval Shipyard. Many do not know this, but small fires aboard ship can turn disastrous. A fire on the USS Bonhomme Richard in 2021 cost billions of dollars and led to the vessel being scrapped! The Russian corvette Provorny caught fire at port during repairs. Some say it will take five years for the ship to be rebuilt due to the extensive damage. Civilian ships are also in danger of fires when in the shipyard for repairs. The Odyssey of the Seas cruise ship was delayed for months, and costs bloomed after a common welding-induced fire. But, with sailors like Leosewski and Hart watching over repairs on the Dwight D. Eisenhower, a shipboard fire was never able to gain momentum. Their quick reactions may have saved the ship!
It’s nice to know that there are highly capable people watching over very important things in our world. The Secret Service protects United States’ presidents. U.S. Marines watch over the safety and security of United States Embassies world over. Firemen sleep at the firehouse, ready at a moment’s notice to dress up and save homes, property, and people. Who else watches over you?
Some of you may know that I am the proud master of a German Shepherd Dog. Charley is her name. Charley and I have probably walked three or four hundred miles together in her lifetime. She is a rescue from the Kentucky-Tennessee border area. Though someone may have discarded her as a young pup, I am thrilled to be her best friend. When we are out walking, I know she keeps an eye out for dangers. I know she protects me.
One afternoon, while out on a walk, Charley stopped suddenly. I ran right into her, wondering why in the world she had stopped. It wasn’t like her to stop suddenly and put me in danger of falling. I looked over at her and noticed she had a serious look about her. She was dead still, with a quiet, slow growl starting to escape her mouth. Her tail was slowly coming up erect. Something was wrong. I couldn’t see it, but something was wrong. She sensed danger.
Then, blasting out of a bushy wooded area, a huge dog came running at me from the side. Charley immediately moved to my left and stood there between me and the large dog bearing down upon us. As I turned to see the dog charging us, I fell. Being disabled, I couldn’t get up quick enough to defend myself. It didn’t matter. Charley kept between me and the threat. She didn’t move. I could see, though, that every tooth was barred. She was going to stand there and protect me with her last breath. The crazed dog stopped five feet from us and growled for a few seconds, then turned and ran back into the wooded area. I’m sure it didn’t want to take on my Charley. I have never seen that menacing dog since. That dog looked sickly and mean. Did it have rabies? Would it have attacked me if Charley wouldn’t have been there? I’m not sure. What I do know is that Charley watched over me that day. Her eye was dead set on keeping me safe.
One of the greatest things for you to remember is that God’s eye is also upon you! As expressed in the scripture for today, God is constantly on watch over your care. According to David, God not only watches over you but will “counsel” you as you need it. God will “instruct you” on which path to take in life. God will guard your ways. All you have to do is learn to listen for God’s voice and look for God’s cues. If you can just keep your focus on God, God will keep watch ahead for dangers.
Upon reading Psalm 32:8, Bill Bright commented:
How refreshing to know that our God keeps an eye on each one of us as His children. He knows the way we are going; He knows the way we should take—and with His watchful eye He promises to instruct us and to teach us.
On some subjects, full directions and plain commands are not always given in the Word of God. In such cases, we must be especially sensitive to [God’s] guiding eye.
Similarly, we apply the truth of this passage to the truth of a particular providence. God’s guiding us with His eye often indicates to us His will by means of providential events. When we live and walk in the Spirit, by faith, we recognize His guiding eye.” (from Promises: A Daily Guide to Supernatural Living)
Do you recognize God’s guiding eye? Are you attuned to God’s leading? Do you heed God’s warnings and press on when God wills it? Learn to trust God’s guiding eye. Your Savior will not let you down!