As we think about focus, we need to remember that distractions can come from all sides. Our lives are busy with work, household duties, children, etc. But today’s Bible Journaling Scripture reminds us of where we need to focus. “Let your eyes look directly forward, and your gaze be straight before you.” (Proverbs 4:25 ESV) The CSB says to “fix your gaze.” Our eyes, our hearts, and our minds must be focused on the Lord.
When my niece, who is a professional photographer, takes photos, she must have her camera aimed straight forward at the subject with her lens focused so that she gets a clear picture. It is the same with us as we walk the pathway that God has planned for us. We must be focused on Him!
Today, this study hit me hard. The Holy Spirit began prompting me that this is an area I need to work on. Too many times, I allow distractions to get in the way of sitting down and having a quiet time with Him. I get involved in “enjoyable” activities like watching television or being on social media, and the time slips away from me, and before you know it, I’ve wasted an entire day and haven’t spent time with the Lord. Bible Journaling has helped me, in that, I love doing it, and it is an incentive for me to get into His Word and study. I must say, I’ve done better than I did in the past because of Bible Journaling, but I have a long way to go.
David Guzik from the Enduring Word website, says in his commentary on this verse, “We often depart the path of the just out of distraction. The blinders used on horses do them much good and would do many of us good as well. Jesus said that if we will be fit for His kingdom, we must keep our eyes forward, not distracted side to side or backwards. (Luke 9:62)” Jesus gives the example of a farmer plowing with a team of horses. If the farmer wants straight rows to plant, he must be sure his focus is ahead of him, guiding the team in a straight line, not letting anything around him distract him from guiding the horses correctly as he plows up the ground. It is the same with us, we must keep our eyes fixed on Jesus as we walk through this life.
The following verse, verse 26, says, “Carefully consider the path for your feet, and all your ways will be established.” (CSB) The ESV says that our ways will be sure. We must thoughtfully, with purpose, keep our focus on what we have been called to do, on keeping an intimate relationship with Jesus, and then our lives will be steadfast in Him. Jonathan Davis from the Christ Fellowship Leesville website says, “In the same way, Solomon is telling us in this proverb that we have to keep our eyes fixed on what is before us if we’re going to stay on the path of righteousness. We should think carefully about (ponder) the path on which our feet are taking us as we keep our gaze fixed on what’s ahead…Where we look makes all the difference. Solomon’s driving point is that we must have a direction, a place we’re heading, if we’re going to keep ourselves from drifting toward sin.”
Spending time with Jesus in Bible study, prayer, and worship, helps us to keep that focus on living a life of righteousness. It sharpens our senses in that the more time we spend with Him, the more we are aware of things in our lives that need to change. As we change to be more like Him, with our gaze straight forward, we are keeping our focus on Jesus and our lives will bring Him honor and glory.
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