Keeping My Eyes Directly Forward

Twice now, I have gone to my mailbox and while walking back to the house and looking at the mail, my feet hit where the curb declines for the driveway and twice I have hit the ground hard – lacerations on my hands and knees and this last time, hit my forehead hard. Thank God, other than the scrapes, I was okay. Thankfully, twice fallen and twice no one saw me fall! Whew!

On this day, May 6, 2012, I ran the Vancouver, Canada Half Marathon. I finished in 2:29. It would have been faster except a little lady carrying groceries stepped off the curb right in front of me and tripped me. I went tumbling. Scrapes and cuts on elbows, knees, hands. I survived to tell this story.

I was recalling all these falls (and, oh, I could tell you more), and feeling so grateful that I have never had a broken or fractured bone. I know my angels must get "time and a half" for their duty with me. Simply distracted, not being cautious and aware of my surroundings. It almost sounds like I’m prone to accidents but more than anything, I think I’m prone to not paying attention to where I am and what I’m doing.

This scripture inspired this blog: “Let your eyes look directly forward, and your gaze be straight before you. Keep straight the path of your feet, and all your ways will be sure.” (Proverbs 4:25-26) Well, if that doesn’t explain my “Case of the Falls”, I don’t know what does.

I hear God speaking. “Focus, Donna, focus! Look forward. Fix your eyes on Me!" I knew what He meant. It’s so easy and not just in the physical sense to get distracted, but also in the spiritual and emotional. We can be distracted by concern, worry, doubt, unbelief and when we do – we’ll stumble with the weight of the world on our shoulders. I was truly focused on that half marathon and at Mile 3, was in turbo mode and feeling good. Then that little lady caused me to fall. It wasn’t anything I did. She wasn't looking.

It was like those things that the enemy uses to trip us up when we are making great progress. Something we say or do or someone else says or does or something that takes our focus off the goal that is set before us. About FACE! I get it. Do you get it, too? We must keep our eyes looking directly forward at Him!

Father God, please help us keep focused on the path you have set before us. Please keep us from the distractions the enemy uses to take our eyes off of You and your promises. Please give us the wisdom to discern the enemy's ploys and keep our eyes focused on You Whose plans for us are good and not evil; a straight path and a perfect time and finish. No more looking back or down or sideways -- only forward. Keep reminding us, O Lord, that You are in control of everything and as long as we keep our eyes on You and walk in Your ways, everything will work out according to your perfect will. Thank You for your faithfulness. In Jesus' name. Amen.

The Wide-Eyed Wonder of a Child

something about children that God wants us to see. We, who have lived a few decades, know what it's like to have made mistakes and now we tend to be over cautious, and leave little room for spontaneity. That’s not the case with children. The future is wide open for them, and they seem to know it.

Wide-eyed with wonder, filled with potential, they are ready to try new things and build new possibilities. Unhindered by the past, they are free to chase after whatever the future holds. That’s the childlike spirit that God wants to give all of us. God doesn’t want any of us to think that we are too old, too wounded, too limited, too whatever. None of us is so bound by our past that God can’t open new doors for us in the future. Our Father has great plans for us. He has a future full of hope laid out for us. Now it’s up to us to run into that future with all the confidence of a little child! I'm getting on my running shoes, right now.....who knows, I may run into the opportunity of a lifetime!!!