Look Up Heaven
(Exodus 14:13)

In a situation where the Red Sea was blocking the way in the front and the Egyptian army was chasing in the back, Moses who led the Israelites out of Egypt declared to the Israelites this way: “Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the Lord will bring you today!” (Exodus 14:13) Moses was bold because he fixed his eyes not on the waters of the sea that seemed to engulf people at any moment, but on God who even controls the sea and the storms. If we keep our eyes on the circumstances in the midst of tribulations, we are gripped by fear. We must not look to our circumstances but look up to heaven in order to live.

1. Joseph’s trial and God who helps him
1) Despite various tribulations and trials in life, Joseph did not lose his dreams and hopes. This was because he fixed his eyes only on God. (Genesis 45:5)
2) We must carry dreams in our hearts and believe that those dreams will come to pass. We need to live by being joyful and giving thanks.

2. The grace of the cross of Calvary that we must not lose
1) Jesus had finished everything through the cross and has given us the fivefold Gospel and the grace of holistic salvation. Therefore, we must look to the cross of Jesus every day.
2) We must keep our eyes on and believe in God who is good and endure to the end. In addition, we need to give praise and thanks out loud for the grace that God has given us. (Romans 5:3~4)

3. Gideon and his three hundred warriors
1) Because the Israelites did evil in the eyes of the Lord, the Midianites, Amalekites and other eastern peoples invaded and looted crops and livestock. (Judges 6:3~6)
2) Called the Israelites as the army
　① Among the men who gathered for war, those who trembled with fear were turned back. So 22,000 men
left and 10,000 men remained. (Judges 7:3)
　② The remaining men were taken down to the water. Three hundred men who lapped with their hands to
their mouths remained, and the men who got down on their knees to drink were all turned back. (Judges 7:5~6)
3) God chose Gideon and three hundred men who fixed their eyes only on God as warriors, and turned people back who trembled with fear and who first fulfilled their own desires. (Judges 7:7)

Conclusion
As we live our lives, there are times when we face a situation where all directions seem to come to a dead end. However, we have nothing to fear because the door of prayer to God stays opened. Therefore, we must not be discouraged in the midst of hardships, but come to God and pray.