Looking unto Jesus the author and
finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured
the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the
throne of God" (Heb. 12:2)
Hebrews 4:1 says, "Wherefore,
seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses,
let us lay aside every weight..." (That is fear, worry, concern, and
anxiety) "...and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run
with patience the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus...."
Now the Amplified Translation
says, "Looking away from all that will distract to Jesus." When the
enemy brings all these things before you, he is trying to get your
attention off of the Savior, the Anointed One.
He is distracting you from the
anointing in you and the job you're supposed to do in the kingdom, by
bringing your attention to cares, worries, and concerns of the world. So
what should you do? Look unto Jesus.
Looking unto Jesus is looking at
what the Word said. When you get what the Word said, it will give you
rest. Now, I had to deal with cares with one of our building projects. I
asked my congregation to pray about three things concerning the new
facility.
Pray that the steel arrived
supernaturally early. Pray that those who were working would have
wisdom, understanding, and strength. Pray for the best weather. I had to
look unto Jesus because if these things didn't happen like that, it
would have cost us extra money. In addition to that, it would have
pushed back the move.
So I had to look unto what the
Word said. And the Word said to me, my God does supply all the needs.
The word said unto me, fear not. Be not worried or dismayed or have
anxiety about anything. The word told me, to give Him thanks that it's
done. So that's what I had to do. Looking unto Jesus gave me rest and
peace.
Now, that's a decision. It takes a
decision of quality to look away form all that will distract and look
only to Jesus. That means you have to have courage, because your face is
going to be against the wind.
But as you set yourself to look to
Jesus, then it will be just as God said. You decide which way it's going
to be. And then look to Jesus regardless of what comes your way.
Scripture
references: 2 Corinthians 4:18; Hebrews 12:1-4