What Are You Fixated On?

 Monday, September 14, 2020

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. For consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.  Hebrews 12:1-3

What Are You Fixated On?
I have a fifteen-month old granddaughter and I think the sun rises and sets in her. Being with her is my favorite way to spend my free time and I can never seem to get enough of her. When I am with her, it is like the world goes away. I forget all that is bad, all that is stressful and all that makes me weary. I am fixated on her during our time together, catching every babble, cheering every step, and witnessing her big personality come out. I am completely captivated and overwhelmed with love for her, and when I am there, she works extra hard to show me all the things she can do. 

Even more so than we could ever be with any of our loved ones, our Heavenly Father is captivated with us. He loves us and delights in us, and we captivate Him because of His love for us. On the flip side, we should fix our eyes on Him, and live captivated in His love for us. When we focus on the Lord, we can lay aside every encumbrance and the sin that entangles us and run with endurance while He cheers us on. He loved us enough to give His life for us. He endured the cross so that we could be unencumbered and free. This freedom allows us to run the race of this Christian life with reckless abandon and joy. We will not grow weary or lose heart if we keep our eyes on Him. When we get distracted and look to the world, it will eventually all fall away and we will be left with nothing to look at but the truth of our sin and broken lives. Until we empty our lives of everything that takes away from Him, and fixate on Him, we are hiding the truth from ourselves.

I cannot fathom that God has that much love for me. But no matter how we feel, the truth is that He does love us more than we could ever imagine. I know there is nothing my kids or my granddaughter could do that would make me love them any less - no matter how great a mistake they make, or how bad of a choice they might make. It is the same with our heavenly father. No matter how bad we mess up or what horrible choices we make, He never stops loving us, or loves us any less. We look at ourselves and see all our mistakes and failures, but He looks at us with love and grace, still fixated on us.

Wendy Blight with Proverbs 31 Ministries writes the truths of who are in Christ:

We are loved - 1 John 3:1

We are forgiven - 1 John 1:9

We are redeemed - Ephesians 1:7

We are a new creation -  2 Corinthians 5:17

We are Holy - Hebrews 10:10

We are set apart -  Romans 8:30-39

We are made with a purpose - 1 Peter 2:9; 4:10

We are a temple of the Holy Spirit - 1 Corinthians 3:16-17; 6:19-20

In our Saviors eyes, we are all these things, and He is fixated and captivated with us. He longs to be the same in our eyes. Elevate Him to the place of honor in your life - above all. Fix your gaze upon Him and let the distractions and the encumbrances of the world fall away.