FOCUS STRAIGHT AHEAD AND UP

 

As I was driving leaving the Army post the other day I looked in my rear view mirror and noticed the car behind me was right on my bumper. This is a big pet peeve of mine and I am trying to gain victory over it.

This made me think about distractions of sin in our own lives. When we focus on problems in our life or the life of a family member we can become so annoyed and worried that we take our eyes off Jesus. When you take your eyes off the savior then fear sets in. Don't look down, right, left, or behind you but stay focused straight ahead on God's plan for your life.

A gymnast on a balance beam has to have strict concentration when walking across the beam. If not they could tumble to the floor before often with injuries as a result. Likewise there may be "storms" brewing all around you but to not be fearful you have to trust Jesus.

Satan has many schemes to get your focus off God and make you crumble and weak in your faith. Keep pressing on my friend.

'Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith,who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.' Hebrews 12:1-2(ESV).

PRAYER: Another day is dawning. A day for me to go out into this world looking up and straight ahead to you and not worrying what is behind me or to the left or right. I thank you father that you are guiding me every step of the way as long as I trust in you. In Jesus' name. Amen.

LOOK STRAIGHT AHEAD

What happens when you are walking and you do not keep your eyes straight ahead? Just watch people fixated on a "communication device" also know as Smart phones to see what occurs. If the person does not occasionally look up they may run into people or might fall down. Your focus needs to be "straight ahead" in order that you can see obstacles in your path.

Life is like that too. You have to stay focused straight ahead and on your goals and your dreams. Do not allow nay sayers to tell you you can not do something. Do not allow Satan to lie to you and tell you there is no hope for you or for a loved one because there is always hope.

Keeping focused straight ahead, and not behind, is the key. The Bible has something to say about this as well. It tells us in Proverbs 4:24-27(NIV) 'Let your eyes look straight ahead, fix your gaze directly before you. Make level paths for your feet and take only ways that are firm. Do not swerve to the right or the left; keep your foot from evil.' Focus ahead, straight ahead. Do not let Satan cause you to take another path, look back, or look down. 2 Peter 3:13(KJV) says 'But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, where righteousness dwells.' Read the entire chapter to get this verse in it's proper context but basically earth one day will be destroyed and believers need to be looking ahead to heaven with great anticipation.
1 Corinthians 9:24(NIV) says '

Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize.' Winners look up and straight ahead. They do not fix their gaze anywhere but upon the prize. What are you looking ahead too? Maybe it is a raise at work. Perhaps the birth of a baby. A marriage and life together with the one you love. Whatever it is hopefully a life lived for Jesus is in the equation. Run your race of life straight ahead to win the heavenly prize. PRAYER: Dear Father I thank you that I have much to look forward to. Sometimes I may have become distracted and seemingly acted like something was more important than the heavenly prize. Help me Lord keep looking up and helping others to keep looking straight ahead as well. In Jesus' name. Amen.