Eyes on the Prize
I’ve reflected a lot in the past
about the “if onlys” and “only ifs, “
the fading hopes that do not last.
But what about the “one mores?”
Don't they hold us back too?
Distracting us from
what we are meant to do.
Let’s keep our eyes on the prize…
I’ve heard it time and time again and yet, the prize is often dangled before me and never reached, when it is an item of this world.
All I needed was one more number for the raffle…
one more goal for the win…
one more vote for the award…
one more conversation for the opportunity…
One more…
I’ve reflected a lot in the past about “if onlys” or “only ifs” but what about the “one mores” of life?
Even the ones that sneak in to stir up trouble like I’ll just go there or do that “one more” time when we know we aren’t meant to do it right then or even AT ALL!
Like…
one more post…
one more scroll…
one more seat at the wrong table…
one more distraction taking us away from…
what we are supposed to be doing
how we are supposed to be living
who we are supposed to be loving
I may not be tempted to do “bad stuff” necessarily and maybe I am not easily tempted to be mean or hateful but what about the distractions…
the “one more” times?
Corrie ten Boom said it perfectly, “If the devil cannot make us bad, he will make us busy.”
And oh boy can it get busy!
Busyness can be a distraction. It can make us feel like we are being productive but busy does not always mean productive.
I think of Eve, Martha and David and how they all faltered in their distractions. But I think of Nehemiah and how despite soooo many distractions he continued on what he was called to do, rebuilding the wall around Jerusalem.
I want to be like Nehemiah
even now as I write this and I see the notifications on my phone competing for my attention. I need to keep my eyes fixed on what matters, on what I don’t necessarily see, on eternity…
“So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.” (2 Corinthians 4:18 NIV)
I also think of the seven churches in the Book of Revelation. I think specifically Thyatira. They got so caught up with inner pressure and false teachings that they compromised. They became distracted and led astray by the lies.
There are still so many wrong voices out there today. We can go crazy trying to identify them all. It can even make us judgy leading us to legalism. Or the distractions can lead us to be loose in our faith, adapting to culture instead of leaning into God’s presence. It is why we must to learn the voice of the Good Shepherd.
Jesus is the Good Shepherd.
(John 10:11-16)
Therefore, The Art of a Messy House reflection and challenge is this:
Spend time daily in God’s Word. Download the Bible app. Buy a Bible. Spend time in God’s presence too. Pray without distractions. Protect that time of prayer and put everything away and aside. Push away the distractions and listen. Spend time in silence leaning into His presence and receiving what He wants us to hear. Write it out. Journal and record the prompts. Date it. This is powerful so that when we become distracted we can go back to what God has put on our hearts.
So today let’s reflect before we pray….
What are we busy doing?
Where are our eyes?
Are they caught up in the distractions and ever-changing prizes of the world or are they fixed on Jesus and eternity?
Let’s remember that the “one mores” keep us focusing on the what could have been instead of what is right here right now.
“Teach me to do your will, for you are my God! Let your good Spirit lead me on level ground!” (Psalm 143:10 ESV)
Dear God,
I pray today to fix my eyes on You. Deter me from the distractions and block me from the busy. Thank You for Your promises for that are the true prize. I pray to be a faithful warrior carrying Your Word through this world. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
