“I need your eyes on me,” a teacher commands to the class.
“Look at me when you’re talking to me,” a parent emphasizes to the distracted child.
“Watch me and do what I do,” an instructor encourages the learner.
It’s as if we need blinders on to channel our focus so that we can pay attention to what matters at the moment. Really, it’s because the content we are hearing is meant to affect us at a later time.
Most of the information that we take in with our five senses comes from our eyesight. We learn from what we see and we learn more when we are attentive to the source of the information.
We can even use this ability that God gave us of seeing and learning to know him better. When we are looking at God, really looking, we are humbled and awed by who he is. Consider taking a moment right now to praise God as you listen to CeCe Winan’s song “That’s My King.” As we focus on God, we can’t help but be impacted by who he is. So, as we intentionally live out our faith in him, we ought to “fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith” (Hebrews 12:2a BSB).
How do we give God our attention that he deserves?
We look at him through Scripture, reading to understand his words and ways. “Through your precepts I get understanding… Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path” (Psalm 119:104a, 105 ESV).
We observe how Jesus lived, learning from God incarnate. “Whoever claims to live in him must live as Jesus did” (1 John 2:6 NIV).
We watch how God is at work around us and in us, directed by the Holy Spirit. “For it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose” (Philippians 2:13 NIV).
We gaze upon God’s creation, his miraculous handiwork. “Since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities – his eternal power and divine nature – have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse” (Romans 1:20 NIV).
God loves his children and he longs for our focused attention because he is relational and we are dependent upon him. As we grow in our understanding of him, we will know him better. When we know him better, we will trust him more readily. When we trust him, we will allow the Holy Spirit to work in us. Then, our lives should reflect God’s character.
Why not see for yourself how focusing on God’s character each day using Follow and Lead will impact your thoughts, your actions, and your prayers?