Delighting in God’s Presence

Dec 26 – Jan 2

Fix Your Eyes on Jesus

By Michael Youssef, Ph D.  12/27/20

To delight in God’s presence, set your heart and your mind on Christ. Never take your eyes off of Him.

If you want to fail miserably in delighting in God—keep your eyes on others. Chase their acceptance, emulate their successes, critique their weaknesses. When I was about 18 years old, the man who was then discipling me taught me this repeatedly. He said, “If you ever want to fail and fail miserably, keep your eyes on church leaders. The bigger they are, the greater your fall.” I have never forgotten that.

No matter what direction you take, what temptation surrounds you, or what obstacles are in your path, the Bible gives clear instructions for success: Keep your focus on Jesus (see Hebrews 3:1; 12:2). Look to Him alone as your example, your guide, and your moral standard. Spend every minute of every day in His presence—and you’ll find supernatural peace and security, no matter what you’re facing in life.

How do we keep our eyes on Jesus? By allowing Him to be the number one influence on our daily choices—not finances, fear, or the approval of others. As you do, He will make known to you the path of life, and He will fill you with joy in His presence (see Psalm 16:11). So fix your eyes on Jesus today—and learn from Him, who made Himself low, how to make your soul soar in God.

Prayer: Lord, thank You for Your Word that reveals to me Your awesome character and love. Help me to follow Christ, clothing myself in Him as Your Word instructs me to do for my own good and delight. I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.

“And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith” (Hebrews 12:1-2).