A Single-Focused Heart
Where is your focus today? Is it on Christ or is it on the waves crashing around you? It is so easy to allow our hearts and minds to be pulled in so many different directions. However, as a believer our heart should be single-focused. It should be fixed solely on Christ.
The World is trying to pull us off the path and get our focus off of the Lord. The devil is deceptive, and he knows by what means to distract us. He knows most of us will not likely be pulled astray by some great wickedness. However, he uses things that appear innocent.
Deuteronomy 11:16, “Take heed to yourselves, that your heart be not deceived, and ye turn aside, and serve other gods, and worship them;”
Anything that causes us to take our focus off of Christ is an idol. As Christian women, there are so many things pulling for our attention – husband, children, ministry, friends, house keeping, and the list goes on. Our lives may be filled with good things. But if those things are hindering our relationship with Christ, then they have become an idol.
Our relationship and personal walk with Christ must take preeminence over everything else in our lives. We have time for the things we prioritize. Even as mothers with young children, there is a way. We just have to find it.
A Double-Minded Heart is Unstable & Leads to Hypocrisy
James 1:8, “A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.”
When our heart does not have a single-focus, it leads to double mindedness and instability.
Farmers used to find a distance object at the opposite end of the field by which they used to guide their plows. When they kept their focus on the object before them, their rows would be straight. In the same way, when we keep our eyes focused on Christ before us, we will stay on the path He has intended for us. The blessing is knowing He has already prepared the way before us and is with us each step.
Psalm 12:2, “They speak vanity every one with his neighbour: with flattering lips and with a double heart do they speak.”
Having a double-minded heart will lead us to hypocrisy. A hypocrite is one way to your face and another way behind your back. This is sad enough to do to other people, but how many of us treat the Lord like this? We try to act spiritual, but in reality our hearts are far from honoring to the Lord.
When our heart is single-focused on the Lord, there will be no room for hypocrisy.
James 4:8, “Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.”
A Single-Focused Heart Stays Fixated on Christ
A single-focused heart will stay fixated on Christ no matter what turmoil may be raging around her. The disciple Peter is the perfect example of what happens when we take our eyes off of Christ in the middle of a storm.
Matthew 14:29-30, “And he [Jesus] said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus. But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me.”
When Peter took his eyes off Christ, he quickly began to sink. This pictures what will happen in our lives spiritually when we take our eyes off Christ and begin focusing on other forces around us. Taking our eyes off of Christ and focusing on our fears leads to defeat in our Christian walk.
Many people start out well on the path, but falter along the way. The issue goes back to a heart problem. They did not all of a sudden fall off the path. Little by little wrong thoughts began creeping into their hearts. Eventually those wrong thoughts led to wrong choices and wrong actions.
Hebrews 12:2, “Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.”
A victorious Christian is one who continually keeps her focus directed on Christ and views all of life’s situations through the truths of God’s Word.
Conclusion
When we keep our eyes focused on Christ, we will see our problems filtered through His lens. I invite you friend to
“Turn you 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.”
What a beautiful reminder written by the songwriter Helen Lemmel. The trials of this world grow dimmer the more we keep Christ in our focus. Let’s turn our eyes on Jesus!
