Don’t Be Moved By What You See

Do you think it is possible to live a life where nothing moves you? Where no trouble or persecution moves you? The apostle Paul thought so. His answer was to die to himself and live a life through Jesus (Galatians 2:20). When we love God to the fullest nothing will move us. Not only love Him but trust Him in and through everything.

In Acts 20:17–38, Paul was on his third missionary journey. He was on his way back to Jerusalem, determined to arrive in time for the Feast of Pentecost.

He knew what lay ahead for him. The suffering, the danger, and imprisonment. Yet he was not moved by any of that. Paul still sought one last opportunity to minister encouragement to the believers in Ephesus.

His farewell message: “But I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God” (Acts 20:24, ESV).

Nothing but the gospel of the grace of God mattered to Paul; everything else was worthless and of no value to him. He had one priority: “telling others the Good News about the wonderful grace of God”.

In April of 2023 I was asked to speak for the women’s group at our church when we lived in Colorado Springs. During that time, we had our house on the market for sale. We even had a buyer and we were under a contract.

I was going to use the selling of our house as an example in my message. I had my message prepared, with notes, a PowerPoint presentation, photos and everything. Just before I got to the church Greg called and told me that the buyer backed out of the sale. I was like “He did WHAT!!!” In that moment my anointed husband quoted Acts 20:24 to me.

He said: “None of these things move me”.

I asked, “You are not moved?”

He said “No, I am not. We are still moving.”

I felt the peace of God. I told him, I too am not moved.

When I got off the phone, I thought to myself, I am not moved by what I see and I am not moved by what I feel either. I am moved by what I believe. I said OK, Holy Spirit, you know my message and you know that I was going to use the selling of our house as an example. The Holy Spirit said and you still are.

I spoke that night using Acts 20:24. I stood on the word of God that although this buyer backed out, God had another plan that would work out for our good and His Glory!

During praise and worship, I had such joy. I was expectant for God to move in the service and to move on our behalf and He did just that. A few weeks after that happened, we had multiple offers to buy our home and we closed the following month, in May 2023.

In 2 Kings 6:17-20 God opened the eyes of Elisha’s servant so that he could see the horses and chariots of fire surrounding them. In this account Elisha had warned the King of Israel that the King of Aram was going to attack Israel. However, when the King of Aram heard what the prophet Elisha was going to do, he decided to capture the prophet instead.

When Elisha’s servant saw that the Arameans had come to attack them, he was afraid. But Elisha basically told him don’t be moved by what you see. He said, “those who are with us are more than those who are with them.” Then Elisha prayed, “Open his eyes, Lord, so that he may see.” The Lord answered by opening the servant’s eyes, “and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha” (2 Kings 6:15-17). They didn’t just get there. They were there all the time but the servant couldn’t see them with his natural eyes. His spiritual eyes needed to be open.

The next time you think that the enemy has you surrounded. Look again, ask the Lord to open your spiritual eyes and know that “those who are with you are more than those who are with them.” So don’t be moved by what you see!

Looking for more? Check out my related blog posts:

• Fear Not, For I Am With You
• Trust in God – Don’t Be Afraid
• Trusting the Good Shepherd