“Stop messing around, they’re looking!!!” My oldest brother’s loud hissing whisper, arrested the other two of us mid grapple, so we quickly stopped inflicting pain on each other, and sat staring back at our parents with the best angel faces we could make. They gave us “the eye” only to move easily back into their joyful conversation at the party. We didn’t dare mess around in the moments that ensued, knowing the consequences that inevitably would come if we caught their eye again. As long as I can remember, I could NEVER disobey when they were looking directly at me . . . OR was I looking at them? . . . I guess it was both really.

It was awareness. There is something powerfully motivating when you become aware of the gaze, the presence of God! Peter and John were so aware of God’s gaze they willingly suffered persecution in Acts 4:19, “Which is right IN GOD’S EYES: to listen to you, or to Him?” The presence of God is with us and many times we’re oblivious to it like Jacob, “Surely the LORD is in this place, and I was not aware of it!” (Gen 28:16). God said He’d never leave you or forsake you (Heb 13:5) that you are the apple of His eye (Zech 7:2 – it’s a fun old phrase meaning He favors you/loves to look at you!)

God’s gaze is motivating, and it’s also delight-filled. When you become aware of His gaze it has the authority to convict you of sin, and the warmth of a comfy blanket. So take a moment, right now, picture God, lock eyes with Him – let Him convict you, let Him love you.