by David Brenneman
"Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God." Hebrews 12:1-2.
"Must remember focus!" seemed to be a prevailing thought in the very popular "The Karate Kid" movie and it's actually a prevailing thought in the Scriptures concerning our walk with Jesus.
When carrying something rather large and combersome we can easily drop it not because it was those things...but rather because we lost our focus on what we were doing or supposed to be doing at the time.
Those carrying their own cross to the place of their death had nothing else on their minds other than to not drop it because of those who's charge it was to see to it that they made it the whole way.
In our lives we can lose focus but it won't be so obvious that we look at what's going on or what's happening and see that it happened. That's not how that slippery slope works.
Little by little, tiny compromise by tiny compromise, we shift our focus from what's ours to be doing to something else.
We think we're standing firm...but a stiff breeze knocks us over. Why? Namely because we're standing on one foot not both feet firmly planted.
How much time do you actually DEVOTE to your walk with Jesus?
Do you at all spend time with Him in the mornings before you run off to do life? If not, why not? Spontaneity is not the right foot to start off on with a race let alone a walk or rather even a marathon.
You wait for the signal to start then you pace yourself and do not get ahead of others at the very beginning of the race. Pace yourself.
With walking with Jesus, who obviously never tires nor grows weak or weary, we need to pace ourselves. If He chooses to run we need to be able to keep pace with Him. Should He stand still we should be prepared to stand there with Him.
Your day ought to begin with time with Jesus. Time in your Bible. There's really no excuse not to for the Believer. So what that you have to go to work. Big deal. Jesus was training those who would be the foundation of the Church of God and He got up early to spend time to be with His Father.
Throughout your day...are you checking in with Jesus to be sure you are on the right path?
In your evening time it's easy to veg out and do things that you do in order to NOT think. Sorry that's not part of a walk with Jesus. Be intentional in your evening times to be with Jesus. Read a good Bible-based devotional. I go through 6 every evening. Be sure whomever it is you read that they are truly men of God, reputable men of God. Spend time afterwards reading in your Bible. Tell Jesus about your day. Tell Him what's frustrating you, upsetting you, things you enjoyed about your day.
Must keep focus. Satan's aim with Believers is to wreck our focus. Plain pure and simple. He cannot take our lives but He can seek permission to wreck them. We read that currently he comes before Jesus to accuse us of things before God the Father and Jesus Himself intercedes on our behalf.
You see that? Right there...our adversary in this life is NOT giving up in wrecking our lives. He certainly is NOT losing his focus on coming after those who believe.
We need to keep our focus on what it is God's called us to be doing and to give our best to do it.
The parables of the talents given out. Those who were rewarded gave their best to the orders they were given.
Seek first His Kingdom and His righteousness and all these things will be added unto you. Matthew 6:33.
Many many will be utterly ashamed when our lives will be tried by fire and almost nothing remains of it afterwards. The utter waste because we turned our eyes off the prize, the upward call for us in Christ Jesus. We didn't use the spiritual gifts we were given. We didn't grow in Christ when we had every opportunity to do so.
Must keep focus!
What are you going to do differently today? I've shared the poem "The Difference" before. Look it up again. It literally makes all the difference in your life's approval before your God.
All NASB Scripture Excerpts used by permission.
New American Standard Bible
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