Where your focus goes your energy flows. That’s because what we look at is what we go toward. I am notorious for this phenomena while driving. If I look left…I start drifting left, if I look right…I start drifting right. Spiritually, this happens to us as well. This is why the Bible encourages us to keep our spiritual eyes on the right things.

Hebrews 12:1-3 (NIV)

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross,scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.

Proverbs 4:25-27 (NIV)

Let your eyes look straight ahead; fix your gaze directly before you. Give careful thought to the paths for your feet and be steadfast in all your ways. Do not turn to the right or the left; keep your foot from evil.

Notice these verses tell us to fix our eyes…the Greek word here for fix is aphoraó meaning to turn our gaze away from everything else and place it on a singular object. We are literally encouraged to turn our attention away from everything except Jesus. The idea is that we allow nothing to distract us as we move toward Him. Certainly our eyes can easily get caught up in so many diversions that pull us in. We have to keep our “blinders” on, not allowing distractions to draw us in and derail our purpose. A perfect example can be found in Homer’s classic “The Odyssey.” In this tale, Sirens were island creatures who would lure sailors with their music and enchantment. While fixated on the Sirens, the sailors would carelessly wreck their ships on the rocky coast, bringing about their destruction. We must keep our eyes on the prize and press on in our mission or we will become like these sailors whose mission drifted.

So how do we keep our eyes focused on the right things?

Look Up

Psalm 121:1,2 (NIV)

I lift up my eyes to the mountains—where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.

We are to lift our eyes up and focus on the Lord. The question we have to ask ourselves is, are we looking to God first when anything comes up in our life? Do we turn to Him immediately? Years ago I heard a great statement that our reactions reveal more about us than our actions. If you really want to know if you are trusting God, see if He is the very first thought you turn to when faced with anything, good or bad. Do you turn blessings back into praise and do you turn challenges into growth opportunities? Our immediate reactions display the condition of our heart.

Psalm 3:3 (NIV)

But you, LORD, are a shield around me, my glory, the One who lifts my head high.

We don’t have to look down in despair and defeat for we serve a God who lifts our head. He will never leave you nor forsake you. He will never let go of you. We can learn to turn our attention from being a victim to being a victor in Christ. Our perception changes our impression. What you focus on will impress into your subconscious. Life is like the movies, when a character is doing something adventurous, such as climbing across two skyscrapers and says to the other, “Whatever you do…don’t look down.” We need to follow the same advice and not look down, but keep our eyes forward.