Post #7 -- Thoughts Fixed on Jesus

My “go-to” verse in times of greatest frenzy or unsettledness is Isaiah 26:3 (NLT) — “You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you!”  For me, there is something extraordinarily special about this verse.  Truly focusing on Jesus helps me to remain calm when my spirit is unsettled, simplifies life when I’m overwhelmed with complexity, gives me a purpose when life begins to fade somewhat, and helps me feel secure when I’m anxious.  He empowers me to thrive!

Scripture clearly admonishes us to keep our focus on Jesus.

“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.”  (Hebrews 12:1b-2a, NIV)

“Therefore, holy brothers and sisters, who share in the heavenly calling, fix your thoughts on Jesus, whom we acknowledge as our apostle and high priest.”  (Hebrews 3:1, NIV)

“Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.” (Colossians 3:2, NIV … and many others.)

Why keep our thoughts fixed on Jesus?

Here are some reasons that motivate me.

Focusing on Jesus naturally helps me to keep my eternal perspective clear and compelling — as we discussed in our last post. 

I enjoy a distinct calming effect when I keep my thoughts on Jesus.  Often when facing a perplexing issue I will figuratively bundle up that issue in an imaginary box, visualize myself carrying it into heaven’s Throne Room and laying it on the altar before Jesus — and there I boldly ask Him to deal with this issue.  I always leave that Throne Room with bounce in my step.  Kinda weird, maybe, but it works for me.  By the way, I usually see many other boxes also sitting on that altar!

Focusing on the face of Jesus guides me.  When faced with a troubling decision, I often ask myself, “What would Jesus do if He were in my shoes?”  For me the issue often quickly becomes considerably less complicated as I ponder how Jesus would handle my perplexing problem.

Plus, I have a great friend always with me helping me to live freely and lightly.  I’ve always been inspired by the Message paraphrase of Matt 11:28-30 — “Are you tired, worn out, burned out on religion?  Come to me.  Get away with me and you’ll recover your life.  Walk with me. Work with me — watch how I do it.  Learn the unforced rhythms of grace.  I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you.  Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.” (Matt 11:28-30, MSG)

Problems might not disappear, but when focusing on Jesus, they certainly seem to have less power in holding us hostage to our negative thoughts, feelings, frustrations, and actions.

I think most of us as followers of Jesus intuitively know the importance of keeping our eyes on Jesus.  After all, we have many scriptures about focusing on Jesus, have heard it preached many times, have sung lots of inspiring songs about Jesus being our life, and have read many books imploring us to keep Jesus central in our lives.

But let me be brutally honest here.  This post has been more difficult for me to write than most so far.  Something just did not feel right after several rewrites.  After prayerfully pondering this for awhile, I’ve sensed God saying to me: “Don, you are quick to turn to me when you’re in trouble.  I value that and will continue to help you like that.  But why don’t you focus on me all the time even when life is good?”  Ouch!

After all, the Amplified Bible version of my “go-to” verse emphasizes the perfect and constant nature of this peace — “You will guard him and keep him in perfect and constant peace whose mind [both its inclination and its character] is stayed on You, because he commits himself to You, leans on You, and hopes confidently in You.” (Isaiah 26:3, AMPC)

Yet we struggle with keeping our eyes on Jesus as a life practice — or at least it does not come naturally for me.

So why is it so hard to stay focused on Jesus?

I, like others I suppose, get easily distracted.  For me the big distraction diverting me from a focus on Jesus when life is going well is busyness.  It’s a constant preoccupation with things, though usually very good things, that are less important — things like time with a family member, or grabbing lunch with a hurting friend, or even writing this post which I enjoy doing.  I suspect for most of us as followers of Jesus, it's the good things in life that keep us from constantly focusing on the best — Jesus.  These good things all have a rightful place in our lives, but we must be careful not to make these our highest priority.

Another distraction for me is noise. Noise, for me, becomes like sitting in a tight, highly insulated igloo making it difficult to penetrate the walls of that igloo to see Jesus and also making it difficult for Jesus to break through and speak to me.  The enemy is so clever.  I enjoy inspirational music.  While that is great, at the wrong time, it too can become a distraction from hearing the still, small voice of the Lord.

Here’s another distraction of which I’m not proud — a lack of continued passion for Jesus.  When I really need Him I’ll turn to Him, but to what extent do I truly have enough love for Him to cause me to want to focus on Him when times are good?

I wonder also if it’s possible to easily get distracted because it sometimes seems that the call to “keep our thoughts on Jesus” seems to be too simple and so very basic — and we tend to be duped into thinking this Christian life should be more advanced, more sophisticated.  Colossians 1:28-29 (from the Message) says, “We preach Christ, warning people not to add to the Message. We teach in a spirit of profound common sense so that we can bring each person to maturity. To be mature is to be basic. Christ!  No more, no less. That’s what I’m working so hard at day after day, year after year, doing my best with the energy God so generously gives me.”

Paul makes it clear that to be mature is to be focused on Jesus — nothing more, nothing less!  I’ll not argue with that!

I’ve been inspired by Helen H. Lemmel’s life story.  In 1922 at the age of about 67, though completely blind, Helen wrote the lyrics and music to one of the most beloved spiritual songs of the 19th century —“ Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus".  Enjoy it with me!  She knew the power that comes from focusing on Jesus.

O soul are you weary and troubled

No light in the darkness you see?

There’s light for a look at the Savior

And life more abundant and free

Turn your eyes upon Jesus

Look full in His wonderful face

And the things of earth will grow strangely dim

In the light of his glorious grace

Thro’ death into life everlasting,

He passed, and we follow Him there;

O’er us sin no more hath dominion

For more than conqu’rors we are!

As I was researching the life story of Helen Lemmel, I’ve been so impressed and encouraged by her faith and walk with the Lord.  It was while she was teaching vocal music at the Moody Bible Institute that she was tragically struck with blindness, followed by her husband abandoning her because he could not deal with a blind wife. History tells us that those who knew Helen in her later years tell of her joy and enthusiasm. Though living on government welfare in a sparse bedroom, whenever she was asked how she was doing, she would reply, “I’m doing well in the things that count.” That’s the kind of attitude I hope to emulate!

Though blind, Helen Lemmel could see the face of Jesus and experience what’s really important in life!  

Like Helen, we can do more than survive — we can thrive!