"Don’t Lose Focus"

“Let us run with endurance and active persistence the race that is set before us, looking away from all that will distract us and focusing our eyes on Jesus, who is the Author and Perfecter of faith.” –Hebrews 12:1-2 AMP

We are well into the year 2016, and sometimes it’s good to revisit and re-evaluate your goals and aspirations for the year.  At the onset of the year, I wrote a blog titled “Run YOUR Race in 2016”, which encouraged you to ‘stay in YOUR lane, and run YOUR race’.  It also explained what happens when you stray from what God has for YOU.  You can start out the year with good intentions, focused, and ready.  But as life happens, it’s easy to get distracted and get off track.  In our key scripture here, I want to zero in on one key phrase, “focusing our eyes on Jesus, who is the Author”. 

The author of a book knows the beginning and the end.  So, if Jesus is the Author, we don’t have to worry because He has it all under control.  We need only focus our eyes on Him.  Identify the distractions that are pulling your focus away from Jesus.  Maybe it’s family issues, relationships and associations, the workplace, extra-curricular activities or hobbies.  Whatever it is, the beginning of verse one has the answer, “stripping off every unnecessary weight and the sin which so easily and cleverly entangles us”. 

We know the age old story of Peter walking on the water.  Jesus commanded him to “Come!”, and he did.  A mortal human being walking on water.  An amazing sight, I’m sure.  But when Peter took His eyes off of Jesus, and started to focus on what was going on around him (the strong wind and the waves –Matthew 14:30), --the distractions-- he began to sink.  So, don’t lose focus.  Revisit and re-evaluate, and let’s finish 2016 strong.

Margaret Slaughter