Stay Focused - #219

When we are focused on what King Me wants, that is when we become caught in the snare of the enemy. Keep your eyes on the Lord, keep the focus of your heart on God and you will not step into the enemy’s trap.

Learn more about the ministry of The Purity Coach at  http://www.thepuritycoach.com

Transcript

Like a horse wearing blinders, when you stay focused on what is directly ahead, you will not be distracted by other things that have the potential of drawing you off the straight path. You will not see that lure dangling enticingly off to the side, trying to pull you away from your single-hearted devotion to Christ.

Welcome to The Point of Purity Podcast. A powerful weekly study filled to the brim with the all the tools from Scripture you will ever need to build a lasting life of Biblical purity and godliness. I’m your host Steve Etner – author, National Speaker, Certified Professional Mentor TM and Purity Coach for The Pure Man Ministry and this is Episode #219 entitled “Stay Focused.”

Deuteronomy 5:32 commands us to “be careful to do what the Lord your God has commanded you; do not turn aside to the right or to the left.” And in Psalm 141:8 the Psalmist declares, “My eyes are toward you, O God, my Lord; in you I seek refuge.”

Here’s my point: Jesus should be always directly in front of us. When we are focused on what King Me wants, our eyes are definitely not on Christ. That is when we become caught in the snare of the enemy because we’re not watching where we’re going. Oh, my friend, keep your eyes on the Lord, keep the focus of your heart on God and you will not step into the enemy’s trap.

I find great significance in the fact that Scripture says our eyes are to look “straight” ahead. In Psalm 27:11 David prays, “Teach me your way, O Lord; lead me in a straight path.”. His prayer is that God would continuously instruct him on the direction he should be going. Is that the prayer of your heart? It should be. But then – watch this now – you must choose to follow wherever He leads.

Note also that David is asking God to lead him, to guide him in a straight path. I submit that the only path God will ever lead you down is the straight one. He promises in Proverbs 4:11 to “guide you in the way of wisdom and lead you along straight paths.”

This is why Proverbs 4:25 tells us that our eyes are to look straight ahead. You see, that is where God is. That is always the direction where God is leading. When you choose to allow God to lead you, when you choose to keep your eyes fixed on Him, when your gaze is always looking straight ahead, here is what will happen:

For the Lord grants wisdom! From his mouth come knowledge and understanding. He grants a treasure of common sense to the honest. He is a shield to those who walk with integrity. He guards the paths of the just and protects those who are faithful to him. Then [when your eyes are firmly fixed on God, not King Me] you will understand what is right, just, and fair, and you will find the right way to go. For wisdom will enter your heart, and knowledge will fill you with joy. Wise choices will watch over you. Understanding will keep you safe. Wisdom will save you from evil people, from those whose words are twisted. These men turn from the right way to walk down dark paths. They take pleasure in doing wrong, and they enjoy the twisted ways of evil. Their actions are crooked, and their ways are wrong. (Proverbs 2:6-15)

That is powerful stuff I just quoted to you. In fact, let’s invest the time right now to re-quote that passage and I challenge you to truly meditate on what God is saying. 

For the Lord grants wisdom! From his mouth come knowledge and understanding. He grants a treasure of common sense to the honest. He is a shield to those who walk with integrity. He guards the paths of the just and protects those who are faithful to him. Then [when your eyes are firmly fixed on God, not King Me] you will understand what is right, just, and fair, and you will find the right way to go. For wisdom will enter your heart, and knowledge will fill you with joy. Wise choices will watch over you. Understanding will keep you safe. Wisdom will save you from evil people, from those whose words are twisted. These men turn from the right way to walk down dark paths. They take pleasure in doing wrong, and they enjoy the twisted ways of evil. Their actions are crooked, and their ways are wrong. (Proverbs 2:6-15)

OK. Now carefully consider what Proverbs 3:5-6 says. “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.” Oh, my friend, choose daily to keep your focus upon God. He will always make sure you are walking the straight path, the one that will truly glorify Him. When you choose to invest time in the Word of God every day He will fill you with wisdom. He will give you an understanding of what is right, just, and fair. He will show you every good and straight path. He will show you the snares of the enemy and how to avoid them.

God’s word will give you discretion and understanding. It will keep you from looking to the left or to the right and thus leaving the straight path. Proverbs 15:21 says that “a man of understanding walks straight ahead.” Keep in mind, though, that simply reading God’s word is not enough. Although God will show you through His word the path you are to take, you must be the one to choose daily to actually walk in it. The choice is yours. The responsibility is yours. The promised blessing is God’s to give you.

Let’s look again at Proverbs 4:25 and this time I want us to take note that God says we are to “fix” our gaze on what is directly in front of us. To “fix” means you are locking something down, setting it as in cement. In other words, your eyes are not to wander at all. You are to look straight ahead and fix, or lock, your gaze on God at all times. You are to moment-by-moment choose to allow nothing to draw your focus away from, to take your eyes off of your heavenly Father, ever. 

Consider this: Wherever the eye goes, the “I” will go.

This is why we must always set our focus on God and never wander from it, no matter what enticing lure may be trying to attract our attention. Do not look to the left or to the right—do not look to King Me—because that is not where God is, and that is not the place of peace and blessing. 

Instead, you are to (Hebrews 3:1) “Fix your thoughts on Jesus.” You are to (Hebrews 12:2) “Fix [your] eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of [your] faith.” In Deuteronomy 11:18 God’s command is to “Fix these words of mine in your hearts and minds.” And in 2 Corinthians 4:18 the Apostle Paul writes, “So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.”

I’ve said this before, and I make no apologies for saying it again – what you think about matters to God. God’s command is clear: look to Him, fix your eyes on Him. The things you see, no matter how you may define them, have a direct impact on what you think. What you think has a direct bearing on what you say and do. This is why you must always be careful about what your eyes see.

Remember that 1 Corinthians 10:31 and Colossians 3:17 command us to glorify God in everything we do. This truth applies to what you see. Are you glorifying God in everything you see? Are you looking straight ahead, or allowing your eyes to glance ever so slightly to the left or to the right?

OK. We’ve covered a lot in this series over the last few weeks. So, let’s take a moment here to review. You see, in our fast-paced, distraction-filled world, it's easy to lose sight of what truly matters. But have you ever considered how powerful your gaze can be? Where we choose to look – both literally and figuratively – shapes our thoughts, actions, and ultimately, our lives.

In Psalm 25:15 David writes, "My eyes are continually toward the Lord, for he will pluck my feet out of the net." This profound statement challenges us to reflect on where our focus lies. Are our eyes fixed on the temporary pleasures and worries of this world, or are they steadfastly set on God?

When we intentionally direct our gaze toward God, we open ourselves to His wisdom and guidance. As Proverbs 2:6 reminds us, "For the Lord gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding." By immersing ourselves in Scripture and seeking God's presence, we gain clarity and direction for our lives.

But this isn't just about reading the Bible occasionally. Nor is it about reading Scripture most of the time. It's about choosing daily to allow God's Word to penetrate our hearts and minds, transforming our thought patterns and behaviors. Hebrews 4:12 describes the Word of God as "living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword," capable of discerning our deepest thoughts and intentions.

So how do we maintain this God-centered focus in a world full of distractions? It requires daily intentionality and discipline in our worship. Whom you choose to worship determines what you choose to see and hear which directly influence what you choose to think about. What you choose to think about determines what you choose to say and do. What you choose to say and do determines the consequences that result.

This is why we must be ever vigilant about what we allow our eyes to see and our ears to hear. As Jesus taught in Matthew 6:22, "Your eye is like a lamp that provides light for your body. When your eye is healthy, your whole body is filled with light."

This principle applies to all areas of our lives - the media we consume, the company we keep, and the activities we engage in. We're called to be discerning, to (1 Thessalonians 5:21-22? "examine everything carefully; hold fast to that which is good; abstain from every form of evil."

Last week’s episode challenged you to carefully consider the content you watch on television or the websites you frequent. Are they drawing you closer to God or pulling you away? It's not about legalism, but about guarding our hearts and minds. As Philippians 4:8 encourages us, we should focus our thoughts on things that are true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent and praiseworthy.

The apostle John warns us (1 John 2:15), "Do not love this world nor the things it offers you, for when you love the world, you do not have the love of the Father in you." This doesn't mean we should completely withdraw from the world, but rather that we should be mindful of where our affections lie.

Imagine your spiritual life as a journey along a path. God's Word acts as "a lamp to [your] feet and a light to [your] path" (Psalm 119:105). When we keep our eyes fixed on Him, we're less likely to stumble into the pitfalls and traps that lie in wait. As Proverbs 4:25 advises, "Let your eyes look directly forward, and your gaze be straight before you."

As we saw earlier in this episode, this straight-ahead focus isn't about being rigid or inflexible. Rather, it's about maintaining a singular soul-devotion to God in the midst of all life's twists and turns (Psalm 25:1-2). It's about trusting in His guidance, even when the path ahead seems unclear and unsure. As we're reminded in Proverbs 3:5-6, "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight." 

When we fix our gaze on Jesus, described in Hebrews 12:2 as "the author and perfecter of our faith," we gain strength to resist temptation and overcome King Me. Our priorities shift, and we begin to see life through the lens of eternity rather than getting caught up in temporary concerns.

This doesn't mean life will be free from challenges. But when our focus is right, we're better equipped to handle whatever comes our way. We can echo the words of Psalm 141:8, "My eyes are toward you, O God, my Lord; in you I seek refuge."

Practically speaking, here are five ways we can cultivate a God-centered focus.

1. Start each day in God's Word and prayer, choosing to set your mind on things above.
2. Be intentional about the media you consume, choosing content that aligns with godly values.
3. Surround yourself with people who encourage your faith and challenge you to grow.
4. Regularly examine your thoughts and actions. Are they drawing you closer to or further from God?
5. Practice gratitude, focusing on God's blessings rather than life's difficulties.

Remember, where the eyes go, the "I" will follow. By consciously choosing to fix our gaze on God, we position ourselves to experience His peace, wisdom, and guidance in every area of our lives.

As we navigate the complexities of life, let's take to heart the words of Hebrews 12:2 and "fix our eyes on Jesus." In doing so, we'll find the strength to resist temptation, the wisdom to make godly choices, and the peace that comes from knowing we're walking in step with our Creator.

Where is your gaze fixed? Are your eyes wandering to the left or right, or are they steadfastly set on the One who holds all things together? The choice is yours, and it's a choice that has the power to transform your life from the inside out.

OK. I want to hit the pause button until next week’s episode. In the meantime, if you’re interested in learning more about The Pure Man Ministry (what we do to help men across the globe find freedom and victory over sexual sin), be sure to visit our website at ThePurityCoach.com.

I am super pumped and uber excited to announce to you the release of my newest book entitled “Living Free: Victory thru Surrender” available now on Amazon. You see, in our journey through life, we often find ourselves teetering at the edge of an ongoing battle of the heart. This book, “Living Free: Victory thru Surrender” will challenge you to examine your worship, your focus, your desires, and the very foundation of your faith: in short, to discover how to live in victory over sin through faithful surrender to God. 

So go to Amazon today and pick up your copy of “Living Free: Victory thru Surrender” - and join me on this transformative journey toward a life of genuine freedom – found not in indulging the fleeting and fickle desires of the flesh, but in truly devoting yourself entirely to the only One who will fully satisfy your soul.

And if you have not yet subscribed to this podcast, let me encourage you to do so today so you won’t miss any of our upcoming episodes! So, until next time this is Steve Etner – author, National Speaker, Certified Professional Mentor TM and Purity Coach for The Pure Man Ministry – reminding you that if you are going to glorify God in your everyday living, He must first be glorified in your every moment thinking.