Keeping Our Eyes On Jesus

Today we’re talking about Focus — something we all know we should have, but it seems like life is constantly trying to pull it away from us. Distractions come in every shape and size: our phones, our schedules, our worries, and even good things that just aren’t the main thing.

Hebrews 12:2 (NLT) — "We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith."

When we keep our eyes on Jesus, we’re not just choosing what to look at — we’re choosing what to ignore. Focus is about knowing where your energy belongs and refusing to let lesser things rob you of the greater thing.

Think of a camera: when it’s focused, everything else becomes blurry so the main subject stands out. In life, what we focus on shapes how we see everything else.

Today, we’re going to spend some time together looking at what it means to sharpen our focus so we can live more intentionally, more peacefully, and more in tune with God’s purposes.

You know how a morning can get away from you if you’re not paying attention? You look at the clock and think, How is it already 11 AM? That’s what happens in life when we live without focus — time slips away, opportunities pass us by, and we’re left wondering why we feel aimless.

What you allow in will shape your focus. Social media, constant news cycles, and negative voices can cloud your vision.

One way to reset our focus is to give ourselves a “content fast” for 24 hours — less noise, more clarity.

A good question to think about is: How might your focus shift if you filtered what you take in?

In photography, you remove distractions in the background to make the subject pop. In life, that means asking: What’s taking my attention away from Jesus right now?

When we remove those distractions, we can spend our days better focused on what we need to get done and what matters most.

Hebrews 12:2 reminds us that Jesus is our focal point. The clearer we see Him, the straighter our path becomes.

When was the last time keeping your focus on Him changed your choice?

Listen, we think we can juggle it all, but multitasking divides attention and weakens quality. Spiritually, splitting our focus means we end up shallow in many areas instead of deep in the right one.

When you are taking time to pray, read, and worship the Lord, be fully present. This may mean not having devices in the same room with you, letting your family know that you just need to take 20 minutes or so to have some quiet time, and then of course not feeling guilty about that.

Where do you need to adjust your focus?

Here’s the thing about focus — it’s a constant adjustment. Pilots call it “course correction.” Every so often, they check their position and make tiny shifts to stay on track. If they ignore it for too long, they can be hundreds of miles off their destination. Our faith works the same way.

Hebrews 12:2 (NLT) — "We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith."

When you focus on the right things, everything else benefits — your relationships, your work, your peace of mind.

What has improved in your life when your focus has been in the right place?

Sometimes focus is less about what you do and more about what you don’t. Saying no to lesser things keeps you free for the better ones.

It can be hard, but we all need to practice saying no without guilt.

Life’s distractions are like glitter. They look appealing, but they stick to you and make a mess.

Before committing to something, ask: Will this help or hinder my focus on God’s purpose?

What do you need to say no to this week to protect your focus?

Sometimes life gets unclear. The answer isn’t to panic — it’s to fix your eyes on the one thing that’s still certain: Jesus.

Think about when a big storm comes through here — we know by now what needs to happen, and that’s because we’ve gone through it before. We can now focus on the important things and be prepared.

The same goes when life is unclear. We’ve all had times where things weren’t what we thought they would be, but we made it through. Now we can better prepare ourselves by going to God to help us, because that’s what we did before.

When you focus on the right things, everything else benefits — your relationships, your work, your peace of mind.

We’ve talked about removing distractions, guarding our attention, and choosing the right focus. But here’s the kicker: you’ll never accidentally drift into focus. It’s a discipline, a daily choice. Like a lens, if you don’t intentionally set it, the picture will stay blurry.

Hebrews 12:2 (NLT) — "We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith."

Like focusing a camera, it takes small adjustments to keep us on track.

What’s one adjustment you can make today toward your God-given goals?

Giving your undivided attention to God is an act of worship.

Focus helps us finish what we start — especially our spiritual race.

Worship helps us stay aligned with God, and it helps us review our commitments and drop the ones not aligned with our calling.

We are better able to weed out the unnecessary and focus on what is needed so we can stay on the path God has set out before us. This spiritual race is ongoing and set to a pace that is intended for us to finish well.

Remember this: focus isn’t about ignoring life — it’s about seeing it more clearly. When we keep our eyes fixed on Jesus, we’re able to cut through the noise, navigate the chaos, and walk straight toward the life He’s called us to.

You can’t control everything that tries to grab your attention, but you can decide what gets to keep it. So today, set your lens. Zoom in on what matters. Blur out what doesn’t. And trust that when your eyes are on Him, your steps will follow.

Where your focus goes, your life flows — so fix your eyes on Jesus.