Bible Verses About Looking Up To God

What does the Bible say about looking up to God?

If you drive a car with a stick shift, you probably remember as a new driver how hard it was to shift gears and stay in your lane. You wanted to look down every time you shifted. Of course, once you got the hang of it, you could shift and keep your eyes on the road at the same time with no trouble.

Life is a little like driving a stick shift. It’s tempting to want to look down instead of keeping your eyes on the Lord. How do you do this? What does it mean to lift your eyes to the Lord?

Christian quotes about looking up to God

“It’s hard to be down when you’re looking up.”

Get your eyes off of yourself

If you’re a Christian, the Holy Spirit helps you turn your eyes away from self onto Jesus. But it’s easy to get distracted. The world, our own weak flesh, and the devil seeks to get us away from Jesus.

Looking at flesh-When you look at yourself, you are tempted to be self-reliant instead of relying on Jesus. You may be tempted to think more highly of yourself and forget how much you need Jesus. Before you know it, you’ve drifted from your faith and total trust in Him. Or you may look to people when God wants you to look to Him for help and hope in your life. Either way, looking to flesh never satisfies.

For if anyone thinks he is something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself. (Galatians 6:3 ESV)

Looking to the world-The world’s philosophies are contrary to God’s word. It says look inside yourself for freedom. It flaunts self promotion and self reliance. The world tells you that you should depend on no one. You can do and be whatever you want. There is no acknowledgement or fear of God.

Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. (Romans 12:2 ESV)

The devil-The devil is your accuser. He seeks to tempt, discourage and make you feel your sins are too awful for God to forgive you. He’s the Father of lies. Everything he says is against you to hurt you. 

Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. (James 4:7 ESV)

1. Isaiah 26:3 (ESV) “You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you.”

2. Exodus 3:11-12 (NIV) “But Moses said to God, “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?” 12 And God said, “I will be with you. And this will be the sign to you that it is I who have sent you: When you have brought the people out of Egypt, you will worship God on this mountain.”

3. Romans 12:2 “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.”

4. Proverbs 4:7 (NKJV) “Do not be wise in your own eyes; Fear the Lord and depart from evil.”

5. Ephesians 1:18 “I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you will know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints.”

6. James 4:7 “Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.”

7. Proverbs 4:25 (KJV) “Let thine eyes look right on, and let thine eyelids look straight before thee.”

8. Galatians 6:3 “For if a man think himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself.”

Relying on the Lord in the good and bad times

When you’re in the middle of a trial or suffering, you may be tempted to run away from God. Maybe you’re worried that God is punishing you, but scripture tells you something totally different.

Let us keep our eyes fixed on Jesus, Who leads us in our faith and brings it to perfection: for the sake of the joy which lay ahead of Him, He endured the Cross, disregarding the shame of it…(Hebrews 12:2 ESV)

Jesus died for your sins once and for all. God isn’t punishing you. If you have made a profession of faith and believe that Jesus died on the cross for your sins he took all the punishment for you. His death on the cross put an end to sin’s reign of terror in your life. You are a new creation and His child.

This is a wonderful truth and should bring great consolation when you’re in a trial. Never let your sufferings or your fears come between you and Jesus. He is always there for you, helping you and giving you strength to get through your difficulties. Jesus is the source of all your hope and help in this life. 

9. Psalm 121:1-2 “I lift up my eyes to the mountains—where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.”

Look to God and not man

There are many good people in your life. God has given you doctors, teachers, pastors, family, and friends. It’s fine to look to these individuals when you need help. But if you depend upon these individuals as if they were your savior, then you are holding them to too high of a standard. These people are mere men and women. When you look at them as if they were God, then you are expecting them to be something God never created them to be. It’s always good to look to God first and others second. When you look to God, He can help you in ways people can’t. He can help you have

• Peace
• Joy
• Contentment
• Peace
• Patience
• Eternity
• Forgiveness
• Salvation
• Hope

10. Hebrews 12:2 “fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”

11. Psalm 123:2 “As the eyes of slaves look to the hand of their master, as the eyes of a female slave look to the hand of her mistress, so our eyes look to the Lord our God, till he shows us his mercy.”

12. Psalm 118:8 “It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to trust in man.”

13. Psalm 146:3 “Put not your trust in princes, in mortal man, who cannot save.”

14. Proverbs 3:7-8 “Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the Lord, and depart from evil. 8 It shall be health to thy navel, and marrow to thy bones.”

15. 2 Corinthians 1:9 “Indeed, we felt we had received the sentence of death. But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead.”

16. Isaiah 2:22 (NASB) “Take no account of man, whose breath of life is in his nostrils; For why should he be esteemed?”

Joy from seeking the Lord

When you were a little kid, you may have loved Christmas. The excitement of getting presents, eating delicious food and seeing family made the holidays a wonderful time.

But, if you’re like most kids, the excitement of Christmas eventually wore off. Maybe your brother broke one of your presents, you got a stomachache from eating too much candy and you got in trouble for being rude to your cousin.

There are many things in life that wear off after a while. A great job suddenly isn’t so great, a good friend gossips about you and your new house spouts a leaky roof. Life never delivers quite like you hope it will. But when you seek the Lord, you find joy that lasts. It isn’t breakable or easily destroyed. Your happiness is long term when it’s placed in the Lord, who is eternal.

17. Romans 15:13 (ESV) “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in him.”

18. Isaiah 55:1-2 “Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost. 2 Why spend money on what is not bread, and your labor on what does not satisfy? Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good, and you will delight in the richest of fare.”

19. Psalm 1:2 (ESV) “but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night.”

20. Matthew 6:33 “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.”

21. 1 Chronicles 16:26-28 (NASB) “For all the gods of the peoples are idols, But the Lord made the heavens. 27 Splendor and majesty are before Him, Strength and joy are in His place. 28 Ascribe to the Lord, you families of the peoples, Ascribe to the Lord glory and strength.”

22. Philippians 4:4 “Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice.”

23. Psalm 5:11 “But let all who take refuge in you be glad; let them ever sing for joy. Spread your protection over them, that those who love your name may rejoice in you.”

24. Psalm 95:1 (NLT) “Come, let us sing to the LORD! Let us shout joyfully to the Rock of our salvation.”

25. Psalm 81:1 “Sing for joy to God our strength; make a joyful noise to the God of Jacob.”

26. 1 Chronicles 16:27 “Splendor and majesty are before him; strength and joy are in his dwelling place.”

27. Nehemiah 8:10 “Nehemiah said, “Go and enjoy choice food and sweet drinks, and send some to those who have nothing prepared. This day is holy to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the LORD is your strength.”

28. Psalm 16:11 “You make known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand.”

Hold on to His Word as you wait for Him

You may notice when you read the Bible, there are many people waiting on God. These are real people with real problems just like you. They struggle with sickness, childlessness, fears and family troubles. They pray, worship and cry to God to answer their prayers.

The one common factor you notice as you read about all these faith-filled individuals is that they believe in God’s word. They hold on to what He has told them. His words keep them going and help them not give up.

Maybe you’re in the depths of a spiritual struggle, family problems, or sickness. You may feel discouraged at how long you’ve waited for God to answer you. Hold on to His words. Don’t give up. His promises are good and He knows what you need even before you do.

29. Psalm 130:5 “I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and in his word I hope.”

30. Revelation 21:4 “He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”

31. Psalm 27:14 “Wait patiently for the LORD; be strong and courageous. Wait patiently for the LORD!”

32. Psalm 40:1 “I waited patiently for the LORD; He inclined to me and heard my cry.”

33. Psalm 62:5 “Rest in God alone, O my soul, for my hope comes from Him.”

34. John 8:31-32 “Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

35. John 15:7 “If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.”

36. Mark 4:14-15 “The farmer sows the word. 15 Some people are like seed along the path, where the word is sown. As soon as they hear it, Satan comes and takes away the word that was sown in them.”

37. Matthew 24:35 “Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.”

38. Psalm 19:8 “The precepts of the LORD are right, bringing joy to the heart; the commandments of the LORD are radiant, giving light to the eyes.”

Trusting and looking to the Lord

When you were little, did you ever go to a swimming pool with your family?  As you walked into the water with a parent, you gripped their hand tightly because you were afraid of sinking down into the water. What you didn’t know was that your parent’s firm grip kept you from sinking, not your ability to hold their hand.

In the same way, it’s not your hold on God that saves you, but His hold on you. It’s not your faith, your baptism, or anything you do, but Christ’s blood shed on the cross for you that saves you. It’s all His initiative. We have nothing to contribute to our salvation.

For these reasons, you can know God will continue to work in your life as you trust Him. Trusting Him means you know He is at work in your life. He has a firm grip on you so you won’t sink.

39. Psalm 112:7 “They will have no fear of bad news; their hearts are steadfast, trusting in the Lord.”

40. Psalm 28:7 “The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and he helps me. My heart leaps for joy, and with my song I praise him.”

41. Proverbs 29:25 “Fear of man will prove to be a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord is kept safe.”

42. Psalm 9:10 “And those who know your name put their trust in you, for you, O Lord, have not forsaken those who seek you.”

43. Hebrews 11:6 “And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.”

Look to God for strength

In today’s world, we’re told “you do you” and “you determine your own path.” This may work for a while. But when life doesn’t deliver the way you thought it would, when you suddenly lose your job, or your child gets sick or you find out your husband is cheating on you, these things aren’t much help. You need something bigger than yourself, something bigger than trite slogans to get you through the day.

When you’re feeling at your weakest, when you’ve come to the end of yourself, your good ideas and your man-made solutions, look to God for strength. When you look to Him, He promises to give you His strength, wisdom and grace.

It’s at times like these that Satan lies to you about who God is. He’ll tell you that God doesn’t care about you or this wouldn’t have happened. He’ll tell you God is punishing you. Or He’ll tell you that believing in God is so outdated.

If you’re feeling condemned and discouraged, good chance you’re believing the lies of the enemy. Here are some of God’s promises that tell you the truth about God and about you. Here are some good verses to memorize to help you when you need God’s strength.

44. Psalm 46:1 “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.”

45. Psalm 34:4 “I sought the Lord, and he answered me and delivered me from all my fears.”

46. Hebrews 4:14-16 “Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then, with confidence, draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”

47. John 16:33 “I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world, you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”

48. 1 Peter 5:6-7 “Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.”

Benefits of looking up to God

What are the benefits of looking up to God? There are many, but here are just a few.

• Peace-When you look to God, you let go of feeling like you need to do it all. Peace is knowing you’re a sinner, but you’re saved by grace through faith in Jesus. All your sins are forgiven, past, present and future.
• Humility-Keeping your eyes on Jesus is a good humbling experience. It reminds you of how little control you have over your life and how much you need Him.
• Love-When you lift your eyes to the Lord, you remember how he loves you. You reflect on Jesus’ death on the cross for you and realize this was the ultimate display of love.
• Keeps you grounded-When you look to Jesus, it keeps you grounded in an ever changing chaotic world. You have confidence, not in yourself, but in Him who promised never to leave you.
• Die in faith-It’s morbid to think about, but you are going to die one day. Looking to Jesus helps you prepare for that day. You can be assured of your salvation and know He’ll be with you until this life is over. He’s with you for eternity. What a great promise that is.

49. Amos 5:4 “This is what the Lord says to Israel: “Seek me and live.”

50. Isaiah 26:3-5 “You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you! 4 Trust in the Lord always, for the Lord God is the eternal Rock. 5 He humbles the proud and brings down the arrogant city. He brings it down to the dust.”

Conclusion

When you lift your eyes to the Lord, you’re getting the best possible help for your life.

Friends and family may encourage and help you in many ways, but they are a poor substitute for God. He is all-knowing, all-seeing and all-powerful. He will sovereignly oversee your life. So, don’t look down at the road ahead. Keep your eyes lifted up to God.