Fixing My Eyes

I grew up on 5 acres. About 3 of those need to be mowed. When I was younger, mowing the lawn was a chore. However, it soon became something I loved. I’d put my headphones on and jam out. We had a riding lawn mower (thank goodness!) and my father loved straight lines more than I did.

It’s not that I didn’t try—I’d do my best to keep that front left wheel in line with the last strip I just mowed. But no matter how much I focused, my lines came out swiggly. I didn’t understand how my dad made such clean, straight lines!

Honestly, he probably told me when I was a teenager, but it wasn’t until I was an adult that I finally asked him how he did it. He said that he would pick a point, one straight across at the end of the yard (or up at the house, depending on which way I was facing). Then, instead of looking down towards the strip and wheel, he would keep his eyes fixed on that one point and go forward.

You know what happened when I started doing that? Yep…straight lines!

How true is this when thinking about fixing our eyes on Jesus rather than our circumstances? This analogy pops into my head more times than I can count. When I feel the heaviness of the world. When my to-do list is longer than the time I have in a day. When I feel depression or anxiety setting in. When I want something to go a different way.

Fix your eyes, April, I whisper to myself. Keep your eyes fixed on Jesus.

I’ve had to say this a lot in the last few weeks. In September, depression seemed overwhelming at moments. Fix your eyes. This will pass.

As I am trying to get all my work done before the mission. Fix your eyes on Jesus. Give me peace, Lord.

While I’m trying to make sure I do or buy all the things I need for my trip. Fix your eyes. It will all get done.

When I start to worry and obsess over things that are out of my control. Fix your eyes on Jesus, April. He sees more than you do.

I’m so grateful for the people in my life who lift me up in prayer. Whether it’s for specific things when I text them or those faithful prayer warriors who I know are praying for me regularly. Because I need it. I need it today. I need it on this trip. I need it after I get home. God is at work, and I am fixing my eyes on Him and what He has in this journey.

I hope that you take this habit with you, too. Where in your life do you need to fix your eyes on Jesus? Because when we take our eyes off Him, life gets squiggly.

[Also…isn’t my papa so wise? Thankful for him and my mama and their example of Jesus throughout my life. ❤️]