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It’s so easy to want to quit, isn’t it? I go through the losing heart syndrome every so often, feeling abandoned, wallowing in self-pity as a rule, and it’s usually accompanied by fear of the future. And this worldwide pandemic has done a job on all of us so that we are often losing heart.
God understands how easy it is for us to lose heart and in Hebrews 12 he gives us some wonderful advice. That chapter begins by reminding us of the great people of faith who have gone before us, of our heritage as believers. Then we are told to fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, and remember all that Jesus has done for us.
Frankly, my friends, I have to continually go back to this simple strategy—to get my eyes back on Jesus, stop thinking about myself and remember what he’s done for me and who I am because of him. When you’re losing heart, it’s a sure sign that you’re not fixing your eyes on Jesus. You can’t lose heart when you’re looking at him. But when you look at yourself or your circumstances, you invite discouragement. If you’re in the midst of losing heart, it’s for certain that you don’t have your gaze fixed on Jesus, and that’s where you must begin.
How do you fix your eyes on Jesus? Start reading one of the gospels and keep reading until you’re thinking about Jesus. Your mind will wander and start going back to you and your problem, but just stop and make yourself re-read from where your mind started wandering. You must fix your eyes on Jesus—make them stay there until his presence and his love fills your mind.
We tend to think that these battles against losing heart take some sort of super-spiritual solution, but what is required is spiritual discipline—making yourself do something that causes you to get your eyes off of yourself and back onto the One who alone can bring you peace and perspective.
Losing heart is a symptom of being self-focused, and any time you are self-focused, you will end up being miserable. Have you noticed that? I sure see it in myself. I want to encourage you to fix your eyes on Jesus, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. It is a spiritual discipline and it will work!
Click here to download the free Bible Study – Are You Losing Heart?