Listen:
“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 12:1-2)
Reflect:
I remember when my dad first taught me how to drive. He always told me, “Diana, your car will always go where your eyes go.” You steer where you stare. This was especially important because trees were planted all along the Romanian country roads in order to provide much needed shade for the people traveling by carriages and horses back in the day.
It was almost daily that the news was broadcasting about accidents of people driving into one of these trees along the roads. There was plenty of room in between the trees, and yet, most often people would drive into the tree because the drivers would see the trees, but rather than fixing their eyes on the gap in between, they would fix their eyes on the tree, making it impossible to avoid it.
The invitation of this week is to fix our eyes on Jesus. The word in Greek – aphoraó – means “to look away from all else at one object, to fix one’s eyes upon”. The Western Church celebrates Holy Week these days (the Eastern Church celebrates it the following week) and the invitation could not be more timely! Our Savior chose the Cross for our sake, he endured it because he knew what was coming after – the possibility of relationship with us! Wow! That kind of love that he extends to us requires nothing more in return than to come to him: undistracted, fully open, fully receiving. This week is heavy, our world is heavy, our souls carry so much hard and heavy, how much we need this kind of love that revolutionizes and restores everything!
Prayer of Response:
I receive your love for me today. I choose to fix my eyes on you, Jesus, so that my life steers towards you every day. Amen.
Questions to Ponder:
- What are the barriers that prevent me from receiving God’s love for me today?
- What distracts me from aphorao – from fixing my eyes on Jesus today?
- How would I describe Jesus in this season?
- What and where do I need new life this week?
Breath Prayer:
Join us in praying breath prayers each day. We invite you to write your own as well.
Inhale(Breathe in): I receive your love for me
Exhale(Breathe out): fixing my eyes on you, Jesus.
(Repeat)
—Submitted by Diana Anton
Diana lives in Bucharest, Romania and serves as the Executive Director of Lifesprings International and her passion is to see women worldwide connected, encouraged and prepared to keep bringing the love of Jesus Christ to our communities.
She loves long walks (on the beach are even better!) with her little family and loves to read children’s books. You can find her on instagram at life.on.farm.road or on her blog atwww.lifeonfarmroad.com.