Hosanna Restoration Church

Years ago when my Grandfather was still alive, he had quite a driving reputation. His car was well known and in our small town, people watched out for it. If I saw him coming when I was driving down the road, I hoped he would not recognize our car. If he did, he would fix his attention on the car to see who was driving and if he did that you better look out! More than once I about had to go up someone’s yard or driveway to keep from being hit. Anyone who drives knows that when you focus somewhere else you have a tendency to head that way, but in his case it was really exciting. He also thought that were no stop signs in our town. I guess he gave everyone practice in defensive driving!

I use this illustration to show the importance of where we fix our attention. The scripture says that evil tidings will have no effect on the person who keeps their attention fixed on the promises of God. If we read our Bibles or even if we only go to church occasionally, we know a bit about what the Word of God says. If we watch Christian TV we can hear a lot of the Word of God as well. Whatever our source of the truth we know a little of what it says. The question is are we fixed on it?

What is our response to daily situations, good or bad, big or small? Are we fixed on God’s promises? If our first response is not according to the Word of God, are we sensitive to the Holy Spirit so that we quickly recover?

When Jesus was going to heal the man’s daughter and his people came to tell him it was no longer necessary to bother Jesus because his daughter was dead; what was the first thing Jesus did? Jesus quickly told him not to fear but rather to keep on believing. In other words, Jesus told him to stay fixed on the first plan. He was telling him to hold on to the faith he had when he came to Jesus in the first place. If we will practice staying fixed on what God says above all other reports, we will soon see the fruit of that faith grow and grow.

This morning as I sat down to read His Word I asked God what He had to show me today. Clear as could be, He said He loved me. I thought that was really nice! When I added that to what I had been meditating on for a day or so about being fixed on His word and His promises it really sounded great. What a huge promise to fix my thoughts on. No matter what may go on around me the fact that God loves me gives me reason to praise.

If something good is going on it is because God loves me. If something bad is coming at me, the fact that God loves me assures me that it will not conquer me. It will not prosper because God loves me and He is for me. If I keep my gaze fixed on God like my Grandfather would fix his gaze on our car, I will run into Him. He won’t try to get out of the way either. He will sweep me up in arms and we will rejoice together. He will do the same for all who fix their hearts on Him and trust in Him.