Turn My Eyes

Turn my eyes from looking at worthless things; and give me life in your ways. (Psalm 119:37, ESV)

Peter turned to watch the wind churn big waves. Lot’s wife looked back to see her city in flames. David peered across rooftops and found momentary pleasure. Eve looked on the fruit and saw it was good.

All of these well-known characters had the same difficulty that we often face. Keeping our eyes on Jesus. Peter turned his eyes to the problems in front of him. Lot’s wife mourned what she left behind. David coveted what he didn’t have and Eve was filled with desire of what could be. Oh, how these defining moments in time could teach us a lesson.

It is so easy to look at our surroundings to determine our direction, but God desires us to look toward Him alone. Our wandering eyes can steal us of our joy, peace and contentment. The scripture in Psalm says, “turn my eyes from looking at worthless things and give me life in your ways.” What a simple prayer written from a man who knew all too well the dangers of taking our eyes off of the Lord.

“Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 3:13-14, ESV)

I am reminded of that old hymn;

“Turn your eyes upon Jesus, Look full in His wonderful face, And the things of earth will grow strangely dim, In the light of His glory and grace.”

How true it is that when we look towards Him, when we turn our eyes to Him, the things of this world do not seem to matter and we find the peace and contentment that we search for.

Prayer: Lord, my prayer today is that I keep my eyes on You! Not looking behind, but focusing on Your will, desire and plan for this moment in my life.