New Year's Day

KEEP YOUR EYES ON THE PRIZE

With the advent of the new year usually comes the motivation to try to improve my health and fitness level. The gym is  great and I do make use of it. However, for those days when I don't want to dress up and drive, I turn to utube exercise videos. To keep it fresh I thought I'd try a different recording. This one involved some pretty intense (for me) balancing moves. I found myself struggling to stay upright when the exercise coach came forth with some simple but valuable advice. "To maintain your balance it really helps to have a focal point," he said. "Don't be looking all around, just keep your eyes on one point," was his suggestion. 

Having given birth to three children, I was familiar with the focal point principle. During labor, having a focal point can help distract your mind from the pain and can increase your resolve. Those can be byproducts of focus. However, I'd never thought about how in other aspects of life, keeping focused can actually help you sustain harmony, symmetry, and balance. 

We can easily apply the focus idea to our daily Christian walk. Having Jesus as your center of attention is the wisest focal point you can adopt. Yes, keeping Jesus, His ways and His will in the forefront of our minds and hearts will bring a beautiful balance to our lives. A balanced life is a productive, peaceful, happy life. When we get our eyes off Jesus we can create false idols for ourselves. We can become weighed down by "good"or "not so good" people, places, and things which crowd out the centrality of our Savior. 

So when we feel off kilter, exhausted, frustrated, and discouraged, let us stop and consider. Are our eyes first and foremost on the Lord? Are we we doing things to please people or to please our Heavenly Coach? Are we looking at our circumstances from an earthly standpoint or in view of eternity? Are we praying for God to order our steps or are we saying yes to outside pressures. Are we marching to the beat of our own drum or waltzing to the symphony of prayer directed paths? 

    “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, 

and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you 

and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, 

and you will find rest for your souls. 

For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

Matthew 11:28-30  

(NIV)

Dear Lord, may we make the coming new year pleasing to you. May we return to our first love, bringing peace, harmony and blessing to our lives and to the world around us. Amen. 

By Cathy Friberg