Keeping Your Balance
In an attempt to improve my fitness, I have begun following an online workout routine a few times a week. The trainer works me hard with stretches, aerobics, and weight exercises. But by far, the section of the workout that I find the most challenging is a series of balance exercises. And there is one that I have yet to conquer.
This most difficult feat of balance (at least for me!) requires standing on one foot with your arms held out to the sides parallel to the ground and then slowly turning your head to look to the left and then to the right and back again, over and over for the duration of the exercise. Now, I can stand on one foot with the best of them, and usually, I can also hold my arms out, too. But almost every time, when I start turning my head to look to the left or to the right, I lose my balance, tottering to the side and quickly putting my other foot on the floor so that I don’t topple over! It seems like a simple exercise, but it’s actually harder than it looks!
I think this balance challenge gives us a good picture of what happens to our spiritual lives when we start looking off to the left and to the right. Proverbs 4:25-27 (NIV) instructs us, “Let your eyes look straight ahead; fix your gaze directly before you. Give careful thought to the paths for your feet and be steadfast in all your ways. Do not turn to the right or the left; keep your feet from evil.” And Hebrews 12:1-2 (NIV) reminds us to “...run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith.”
One phrase from the workout trainer sticks with me: “Where your focus goes, your energy flows!” If instead of looking ahead and keeping our eyes fixed upon Jesus, we begin to shift our focus to look at the distractions and discouragements, the terrors and temptations that surround us, we can quickly lose our balance. Our faith may begin to feel shaky or we may even fall off the path of grace we were following.
I am reminded of Jesus’ disciple Peter who stepped out of the boat in faith and onto the water, walking toward Jesus (Matthew 14:22-33). The entire time Peter kept his gaze upon the Lord, he remained balanced. But the scripture says that when he saw the wind, he became afraid, and then he began to sink! Thankfully, Jesus reached out and caught him, and they climbed back into the boat together.
Sometimes this life of faith can feel like a balancing act and we may even be struggling to keep our heads above water. If you feel out of sorts or off balance, Dear One, I encourage you to consider what you are looking at. What is filling your vision and attracting your attention? What causes you to look away from God? Are you focused upon your worries and cares? Your needs and desires? Or even the ways and opinions of the world? Or are you gazing upon the loving eyes and strong, but gentle face of Jesus Your Savior? For only He can keep you balanced through the challenges and trials of this earthly life.
I just love this verse from the classic hymn “Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus” by Helen Lemmel: “Turn your eyes upon Jesus. Look full in his wonderful face. And the things of earth will grow strangely dim in the light of His glory and grace.” As we fill our sight with Jesus and keep Him as our focal point, His brightness illuminates our life, and the world around us becomes less of a distraction and less able to throw us off balance. But, of course, this takes practice. Just like I am regularly practicing my balance exercise – and I am improving! And we do have the comfort that when we do teeter, topple, or even fall, Jesus is willing to reach out His Hand to catch us and help us, just as He did for Peter.
Dear One, I encourage you to keep looking ahead to Jesus. Fixing your eyes upon Him will keep you from losing your balance, “so that you will not grow weary and lose heart (Hebrews 12:3).” How will you work on your balance in the days to come? What can you practice this month to help you with this? (And if you are up to it, try the physical balance challenge I described and let me know if you can conquer it for a whole minute!)
A Prayer:
Lord Jesus, help me to keep my eyes, my heart, and my mind fixed upon You in faith. Protect me from the diversions of the world around me that try to throw me off balance. As I put my trust in You, I receive Your promise that You will keep me in Your perfect peace (Isaiah 26:3, Philippians 4:7) and my feet will stay securely on the path You lay out before me. Thank You!
In Your Name,
Amen.
