Focus For the Ride

One thing I ask from the Lord, this only do I seek; that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze on the beauty of the Lord and to seek him in his temple. Psalm 27:4 

 Let your eyes look straight ahead; fix your gaze directly before you. Proverbs 4:25 

     Trying to balance may require a focal point. Keeping a steady gaze ahead in the distance may get you through the roller-coster ride. Your life story is being played out in a variety of ways; in your family, in your career, in your children, in the choices you make. We have found our most important companion for the ride; Jesus. I pray you have others to love and support you for the ride.

     The Bible reminds us to keep a steady focus, a view of the goal in mind, a focal point. We can worship God, our creator in the way we do our job, to find value in the chores we do for our family, in finding ways to trust in the deepest times of sorrow. How do we get there? Focus. Jesus knew His mission, as he lived out His thirty-three years of life. Each step He took brought Him closer to the cross. He saw beyond it. He fixed His gaze to the resurrection and His purpose. He believes in you and your purpose for your life.

     My friend, Sylvia, went home to be with Jesus a couple of weeks ago. The last three years of her life were filled with physical challenges; a liver transplant, a brain tumor, trips back and forth to Mayo, blood transfusions, infections, chemo and radiation. She came, as often as she could, to our Tuesday morning Bible studies. She was filled with God’s grace. She praised Him through her time of suffering. Her greatest mission was to share the love of Jesus with others and to enjoy the rest of the ride, including parasailing with her twelve-year-old granddaughter. She maintained a sense of humor and a huge smile that lit up the room.

     I don’t want to paint a perfect picture. She suffered. She fell apart. She had down days where she needed to be lifted up. We all do. There are times of grief, and loneliness and fear. But I want to be strong and fearless and faithful. I want to be prepared for those times in advance. But how?

Since then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. Colossians 3:1-2 

Dear Jesus,
Teach us how to believe and have faith and trust in You even during our times of despair and suffering. Teach us how to help each other through the valleys and to learn from the wise women and men of faith who go before us. We fix our hearts, our minds and our gaze on You.
 Amen