“Let your eyes look straight ahead; fix your gaze directly before you.” Proverbs 4:25 NIV
“Life demands a significant measure of focus for the greatest achievement.”
My thoughts today are about “a clear focus.”
Life does not work very well if you are looking everywhere except where you are going. Have you ever watched someone who is so busy looking all around that they walk right into someone or something immediately in front of them, or trip over something so obvious or small that they would have otherwise seen and avoided it, if they had just been looking where they are going?
Solomon wrote, “Let your eyes look straight ahead; fix your gaze directly before you.” Proverbs 4:25 NIV. There is a simple rule that I have observed as it relates to driving an automobile – a car should never be moving in a direction that you are not presently looking. I think that rule is applicable to life. You will never find happiness always looking around for what you want, rather than focusing thankfully on what you have.
Some people try to do so many things – and may even do them well – but stay so busy doing so that they never discover what they would most enjoy and can do best! A scattered life lacks focus and diminishes real accomplishment. Life demands a significant measure of focus for the greatest achievement. You cannot successfully do a lot of things equally well and all at the same time, however popular and culturally commendable multi-tasking is presently viewed to be. A clear focus produces two results: your concentration on essentials and elimination of non-essentials.
The Apostle Paul was multi-talented, but realized that when it came to matters of eternal importance it is essential to have a clear focus. “I am focusing all my energies on this one thing: forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead. I strain to reach the end of the race and receive the prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us up to Heaven.” Philippians 3:7-14 NLT. Where do you find the “one thing” that centers your life?
How would you describe your approach to everyday life? Are you focused or scattered? Steadfast or changeable? Single minded or double minded? “A doubtful mind is as unsettled as a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. People like that should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. They can’t make up their minds. They waver back and forth in everything they do.” See James 1:6-8 NLT. Is your path forward clear or clouded? A worthy goal sets your focus; a clear focus simplifies priorities; committed priorities clarify your strategy for success.
People are so much like Simon Peter. The disciples were caught in a storm, when Jesus came to them “walking on the water.” Read Matthew 14:22-34 NKJV. Now that is way outside the norm for seasoned sailors. At Jesus’ invitation, Peter got out of the boat, also walking on water to come to Jesus; what a rush! All went well – miraculously even – until Peter took his eyes off Jesus. That happens so many times!
Listen to Matthew’s memory of the moment, “Peter . . walked on the water to go to Jesus. But when he saw that the wind was boisterous he was afraid, and beginning to sink . .” Nothing had changed – same storm, same winds and waves, same reality, same possibilities good and bad, same opportunity – except Peter’s focus got fuzzy. When he saw all the chaos and surrounding danger, he took His eyes off of Jesus. The wrong focus or lack thereof, leaves you afraid of all you see. Where are you looking that makes you fearful? Conversely, the right focus can make you fearless!
The Bible’s advice is clear: “Let us keep our eyes fixed on Jesus, on whom our faith depends from beginning to end. He did not give up because of the cross! On the contrary, because of the joy that was waiting for Him, He thought nothing of the disgrace of dying on the cross, and he is now seated at the right side of God’s throne.” Hebrews 12:1-2 TEV. Jesus never flinched, never lost His focus. Read Hebrews 2:9-10 NKJV.
My prayer for you today is that you keep your eyes on Jesus, whatever the circumstance.