Holy Focus

I've been studying Hebrews 12:2 today which says,

"Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God." I love looking up the original meanings for words/phrases in scripture on www.blueletterbible.org, and this morning, I was curious to see what the original meaning of the word "fix" meant.  The original word means to "turn the eyes away from other things and fix them on something else".  My mind thinks visually, so immediately I began to think of something that would explain what I picture the word to mean.

This dog is fixated.  His focus is planted on something, and nothing, other than its owner will be able to pull him from what he sees.  

We all have a lot of things going on right now.  Life is busier than I've ever seen it, and it is so easy to shift our focus to the details of life, and really never experience the true Joy of life, which is Jesus Christ. God has impressed upon my heart today, that, just like the dog, I need to be fixated on Him and on Kingdom things.  I have found that when I do, all the other details of life are still there and eventually get accomplished, but the day finds a new meaning and purpose when I seek a Holy Focus.

Go

It's a glorious Fall morning, well, it really feels like Spring, because it's cool, but will be in the mid 70's today again with warm sunshine.  As I sat down with my coffee and my Bible, my sweet dog Cooper came to me and did what he does a lot. He laid his head on the chair next to my leg.  Now, before you say in your head, "Aww", this is generally the thing he does when he wants something from me, so like I have done many times before, I said, "Go".  Most of the time that doesn't work until I say, "Go lay down," to which he doesn't leave my presence, but he lays close by.

Before I sat down, I prayed that God would speak to me this morning, and as I said the word "Go", a truth resonated in my heart.  I do that with God.  When life is too busy and there are too many things on my "to do" list, my actions say "Go" to God when He comes close.  But what does He do?  Much like Cooper, He never leaves and stays by my side until I'm ready for Him.  “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” (Hebrews 13:5)


Today my heart says, "Lord, come near, closer than I think I need you.  Thank you for never leaving me, even when my heart says "Go lay down."