What are you focussing on?

Right now, what are you focusing on? 

Are you thinking about a problem in your life? Are your thoughts about it lining up with what God says about it? Or are your thoughts filled with your human expectations and fears? These are some challenging questions that I have had to ask myself on many occasions.

In Hebrews, Paul tells us what we are to do with that wrong focus, a weight that slows us down and trips us up.

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 honor beside God's throne. Think of all the hostility he endured from sinful people; then you won't become weary and give up. Hebrews 12:1-3 NLT

Yes, we are to keep our eyes on Jesus. But what does that mean in practical terms? The Message Bible says this ...

Keep your eyes on Jesus, who both began and finished this race we're in. Study how he did it. Because he never lost sight of where he was headed - that exhilarating finish in and with God - he could put up with anything along the way: cross, shame, whatever. And now he's there, in the place of honour, right alongside God. Hebrews 12:2 The Message

Study how he did it. 

How can we study how Jesus did it? For me, there are a couple of ways we can study how Jesus finished the race He was destined to run.

1. Read God's word to learn about what Jesus did here on earth and His relationship with His Father. As you read, ask the Holy Spirit to give you fresh revelation about Jesus character, focus and willingness to submit.

2. Interact with Jesus, talk to Him, ask Him what He would do with this problem. Ask Him to show you what is distracting you from keeping your eyes on Him.  He is the Leader, Source and Finisher of our faith.

Looking away [from all that will distract] to Jesus, Who is the Leader and the Source of our faith [giving the first incentive for our belief] and is also its Finisher [bringing it to maturity and perfection]. 

He, for the joy [of obtaining the prize] that was set before Him, endured the cross, despising and ignoring the shame, and is now seated at the right hand of the throne of God. Hebrews 12:2 AMP

Jesus is ready and available to help bring our faith to it's maturity. But He can only do that if we have our eyes fixed on Him and are not distracted by other things. 

Why to do we need mature faith? Because then we can fully do what God has called us to do, being His ambassadors on this earth.

[That it might develop] until we all attain oneness in the faith and in the comprehension of the [full and accurate] knowledge of the Son of God, that [we might arrive] at really mature manhood (the completeness of personality which is nothing less that the standard height of Christ's own perfection), the measure of the stature of the fullness of the Christ and the completeness found in Him...... let our lives lovingly express truth [in all things, speaking truly, dealing truly, living truly]. Enfolded in love, let us grow up in every way and in all things into Him Who is the head, [even] Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One). Ephesians 4:13, 15 AMP

Question for today, what are you focusing on?  Is that focus leading you to Christ and maturing your faith? If not, why not take some time to read more about Jesus and talk to Him about helping you to change your focus, and become all that He has called you to be.

The goal is for all of them to become one heart and mind - just as you, Father, are in me and I in you. So they might be one heart and mind with us. Then the world might believe that you, in fact, sent me. 

The same glory you gave me, I gave them, so they'll be as unified and together as we are - I in them and you in me. Then they'll be mature in this oneness, and give the godless world evidence that you've sent me and loved them in the same way you've loved me. John 17:21-23 The Message