Keep your eyes focused

Pauline Matanda

HEBREWS 12:1-2 reads: “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us.

“We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honour beside God’s throne.”

What is slowing you down in your Christian walk? Get rid of it. What is distracting you? Take your eyes off it. What is weighing you down? Offload it. Cast all your cares before the Lord and continue to run your race with sure feet.

The law of focus says you move towards what you concentrate on.

Matthew 14:25-30; “Shortly before dawn Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake.  When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. ‘It’s a ghost,’ they said, and cried out in fear. But Jesus immediately said to them: ‘Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.’ Lord, if it’s you,’ Peter replied, ‘tell me to come to you on the water.’ ‘Come,’ he said. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, ‘Lord, saveme!’”

Peter started sinking the moment he put his eyes off Christ and started focusing on the raging waters.

Yes, the environment may be distracting, too many pressures and stresses, but your focus must not be on the situation. Your focus should be on the one who said “come”.

Do not listen to the lies of the devil. He will tell you that you cannot walk on water Peter, you will sink.

Please ignore that negative voice, focus on the one who is already walking on water and you will make it.

Do not listen to any other voice contrary to the voice of God. They will tell you that you cannot do it when in fact the word of God says “you can do all things through Christ who strengthens you.”

They will say you are a weakling when the Word says you are more than a conqueror. Keep your eyes on Jesus, He will calm the storms of life for you.

Focus on Jesus,the author and perfecter of your faith and you will move towards Him. You focus on Jesus by focusing on the Word. Jesus and the Word are one.

Proverbs 4:25 sums it up; “Keep your eyes focused on what is right, and look straight ahead to what is good. Run this race with endurance. Remember we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses. What we may be going through is not peculiar to ourselves.”

There are heroes of faith who went through the same and still overcame.  They are there, cheering us up “you can do it; we did it before!”

Sarah, Hannah and Elizabeth aside saying you are not barren, we went through the same, but finally bore children. Job saying everything of mine was destroyed, but restoration is real. Delay may not be denial, keep your eyes focused on Christ and run with endurance.