“Keep your eyes where they belong.”
That’s good advice. Driver education teachers will tell their students to keep their eyes ahead. “Stare at something and your car will head that way.”
Try cutting grass in a straight line while looking backwards, or even to one side. When riding my bike and trying to stay as close to the end line as possible, I have to keep looking ahead. Not to one side or another. Not at the scenery.
In 2 Chronicles 20, King Jehoshaphat found himself with three formidable enemy armies approaching him. He was terrified by the news, ordered prayer and fasting, then went to God and stated some now famous words: “We are powerless against this mighty army that is about to attack us. We do not know what to do, but we are looking to You for help.” (v.12). The ESV says, “We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on You.” Reading ahead you will see that his faith and trust was rewarded when God routed the armies without Jehoshaphat’s army lifting a finger.
Colossians 3:1 tells us to “Set your mind on things above.” Keep looking straight ahead. Don’t get distracted by peripheral issues. Stay focused on Christ.
When my kids were growing up, I helped with Children’s Choir and we performed a musical called “Fat, Fat Jehoshaphat” so I’ll always remember his story of faith. May we always keep our eyes focused on the Lord!
Blessings, Bill!
Never heard that one before Martha. But if it helps you to remember then it did its job! 🙂 I second your thought.
Keeping every thought captive with the Lord, is a daily pray for me. I love the fact that not only did they trust in God, but they sang songs of praises as they headed out to the battlefield. Thanking God ahead of the battle, fully trusting in the victory before it happened. I want to have a heart that trust God, and thanks God for what He will do, before it happens, fully trusting in His ways before I can understand what Gods plans are.
Good point Gail. I thought about saying something about that but decided to stick with my thought of focusing on Christ. But then again, Jehoshaphat brought the focus to God with his praise.