Jennifer McAlisterA couple of days ago, I made the mistake of opening my email before opening my Bible. Instead of being filled with God’s peace, my cup began to “runneth over” with problems and distractions. None of the issues were significant, but enough to steal my attention. I didn’t want my day to start like this, so I began to pray scripture back to God and in doing so, it reminded me where I needed to look:
“I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth”(Psalm 121:1-2).
“To You I have raised my eyes, You who are enthroned in the heavens!” (Psalm 123:1).
“Let’s run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking only at Jesus, the originator and perfecter of the faith…” (Hebrews 12:1-2).
It didn’t take long before my anxiety decreased, joy increased, and instead of fretting, I was praising. Choosing where I fixed my eyes made all the difference.
A term called “target fixation” was initially used during World War II when the pilots became so fixated on the targets they were bombing that they flew right into them. People driving cars and riding motorcycles are susceptible to this phenomenon as well. For example, a friend told me he experienced this while riding his motorcycle and saw a deer in his headlights. Although there was plenty of time to swerve, he ended up crashing into what he was trying to avoid. Why? Because he never took his eyes off the deer. He found out the hard way that motorcycles go in the direction your eyes look. Both my friend and the deer had target fixation issues that caused pain to one and death to the other.
In today’s turbulent atmosphere, we will be distressed and fearful if we keep our gaze locked only on the threats and problems the news and social media announce 24/7. We live in a world filled with trouble and tribulation that Jesus said we would—even more so as we get closer to His return. Fortunately, we don’t need to be paralyzed by fear because we belong to a God who has overcome the world. When we focus on Jesus, our fears fade.
Before you start your day, I encourage you to open your Bible before your laptop and decide where you will fix your eyes—will it be on the threat or the throne? Target fixation becomes a blessing only when we fix our eyes on Jesus, our mighty Savior and King.
“Let’s run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking only at Jesus, the originator and perfecter of the faith…” Hebrews 12:1-2
Pray: Father, thank you that we can look to You. You alone are our rock and source of eternal peace and joy. We pray for those who have been blinded by the world and ask that they will repent and turn to You today.
