Manna for Your Morning

…stripping off every unnecessary weight and the sin which so easily and cleverly entangles us, let us run with endurance and active persistence the race that is set before us, [looking away from all that will distract us and] focusing our eyes on Jesus, who is the Author and Perfecter of faith … — Hebrews 12:1-2 (AMP) Don’t focus on the shortcomings of the government or the value of your stock portfolio. Stop examining the imperfections of those around you. Instead fix your eyes upon Jesus, and start running. Because he never lost sight of where he was headed—that exhilarating finish in and with God—he could put up with anything along the way. (See Hebrews 12:2 MSG)  Just as Jesus endured the cross, we will have to endure some things, but keep your focus on Jesus, the One who has already gained the victory for us. Yet I am so thankful to God, who always marches us to victory under the banner of the Anointed One; — 2 Corinthians 2:14a (VOICE)

We look away from the natural realm and we focus our attention and expectation onto Jesus who birthed faith within us and who leads us forward into faith’s perfection. His example is this: Because his heart was focused on the joy of knowing that you would be his, he endured the agony of the cross and conquered its humiliation, and now sits exalted at the right hand of the throne of God! — Hebrews 12:2 (TPT) Look away from the natural realm and all of its distractions. Let us focus our attention on Jesus, the Author and Perfecter of our faith. He leads us forward, to the glorious destination the Father has for us. And He empowers us to fulfill the Father’s purpose and plan for our lives. Stay focused on Jesus, as your first love, and wholeheartedly follow Him, at all times. What or who, we choose to give our attention to, greatly impacts our lives. In Luke 11:34 (AMP), Jesus said: “ The eye is the lamp of your body. When your eye is clear [spiritually perceptive, focused on God], your ...

Now stay focused on Jesus, who designed and perfected our faith. He endured the cross and ignored the shame of that death because He focused on the joy that was set before Him; and now He is seated beside God on the throne, a place of honor. — Hebrews 12:2 (VOICE) The Amplified Bible adds: [looking away from all that will distract us and] focusing our eyes on Jesus … When we focus on current circumstances, which are always up and down, we can get distracted and drift away from God and His perfect will for us. Instead, stay focused on Jesus. He is always the same, and His years will never come to an end. When Jesus is our focal point, we maintain internal peace and calm, in the midst of external chaos. Believe in God, believe also in Jesus. (John 14:1) Trust God to provide what you need (strength, direction, wisdom, favor, healing, etc.) at just the right time.

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. — Hebrews 12:1-2a (NLT) If we are going to run our race with endurance, it is absolutely necessary to keep our eyes on Jesus. Look away from the sideshows that serve as distractions and stay focused on Him. As we look unto Jesus, our thoughts are elevated above the adverse life events, that try to pull us down and beat us up. Don't be consumed by darkness. Fix your eyes on Jesus, the light of the world (John 8:12). He is the source of our hope and our healer, the One who makes us whole. He is the way, the truth, and the life (John 14:16).