Turn Your Eyes

2 We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne.3 Think of all the hostility he endured from sinful people; then you won’t become weary and give up.4 After all, you have not yet given your lives in your struggle against sin.

Hebrews 12:2-4 (NLT)

Where do you look for encouragement when life just does not seem fair? Are you looking at those around you that are in the mess with you or are you looking to Jesus? I woke up today humming this old hymn. It is one of the few I know from beginning to end and I when I feel the weight of the world upon my shoulders I sing the refrain and remember to focus on Him. Its title is, Turn Your Eyes upon Jesus it was written by Helen H. Lemmel in 1922 and its public domain for those who are worried about that.

O soul, are you weary and troubled?
No light in the darkness you see?
There’s a light for a look at the Savior,
And life more abundant and free!

Refrain

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 glory and grace.

Through death into life everlasting
He passed, and we follow Him there;
Over us sin no more hath dominion—
For more than conquerors we are!

Refrain

His Word shall not fail you—He promised;
Believe Him, and all will be well:
Then go to a world that is dying,
His perfect salvation to tell!

Refrain

Someone asked me this week; it might have been a rhetorical question, how I can have so much faith when I have endured the loss of my oldest son and all the other issues of life. I told them it requires lots and lots of prayer and then I added I had to change my focus. I ask you today when life’s storms come your way where is your focus. It is easy to get lost in the world. My focus has changed to understand God has a few of the people I love in His care. I can ask for nothing greater than that of God. Yet I desire to know that all the rest of the people I love and care for also come into His presence one day. He has entrusted me in the meantime to care and love those I meet. He has also called each of you to that same calling. It is all right to mourn those who have gone; because we must, that is just a part of this life. Though it happens we cannot allow it to remove our focus from the one in whom the promise of eternal life resides. I love each of you and pray everyday that some word that God shows to me will be a help to those who read it. Remember your focus is to be on Jesus and He will guide your paths and make them straight. When your load is heavy remember these words:

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 glory and grace.

Have a blessed day in the Lord.