Eyes on Who?

My son, Luke, recently received his yellow-striped belt in karate.

He is the small one in the middle.  Doesn't he look fierce?!  Don't want to mess with him! He is 47 lbs of sheer power!

Karate is great for developing self-discipline and focus.

Sometimes the students get distracted.  It doesn't take much to distract five to seven year olds.  Their eyes wonder to the TV outside the room, to the shoelace that is untied, to the scratch on their foot, to the kid picking their nose, etc.  Like I said, it doesn't take much to distract them. 

One of the common phrases the instructors say to the students to help them regain their focus is:
 "Eyes on Who?"

To which, the students rhythmically reply, "Eyes on you, sir."   (very loudly)

Wherever our eyes go, that is what our focus will be on.

Two major deterrents from the correct focus are the world and ourselves.

The world is competing for our focus.  Giant billboards on the side of the road, store displays in the mall posting scantily clad women and men, and perverse television shows all shout "look at me"!  Not to mention the millions Hollywood spends in hopes of capturing our attention.

All of these can distract from where our focus should be centered.  It takes discipline to keep our eyes focused on the Instructor.

The other distractor I mentioned was ourselves. 

When our eyes are focused inward, we see only ourselves.  When our eyes our on ourselves, our vision becomes blurred or off focus.  God wants our focus to be upward towards Him.  He wants our full attention.  Only then, can He direct our focus outwards towards others.

Worry, reasoning, self-pity, and anxiousness are all indications that your focus is off.

When we find ourselves caught in one of the traps above, it is time to ask ourselves who our eyes are on?

My son, give attention to my words; Incline your ear to my sayings.  Do not let them depart from your eyes; keep them in the midst of your heart; For they are life to those who find them, and health to all their flesh.  Proverbs 4:21-22

 It says to not let His Word depart from your eyes.  Jesus is the Word made flesh.   Our eyes need to be on Him.  Our eyes need to be focused on the Instructor.

When our eyes get a little off focus, when the world or cares of this world petition for our attention, or when we are tempted to look inward, I pray we would heed the Voice that gently reminds, "Eyes on Who?"

May we respond humbly, with certainty, knowing His loving eyes never leave us, "Eyes on You, Jesus. Eyes on You."