After an incredible weekend of inspiration, information, and refreshing, closing out the devotional on peace, I started to seek a new devotional for dads and found “Eyes on Jesus” which is a 14-day discernment devotional. What was interesting to me was that as I dug to see what it was about I discovered that it was by the same person who gave us “Focus on Fundamentals“. So as I start this week and even reflect on the Teen Reach Summit over the weekend, I know the key is to keep our eyes on Jesus!
Scripture from Today’s Devotional:
‘ THEREFORE THEN, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses [who have borne testimony to the Truth], let us strip off and throw aside every encumbrance (unnecessary weight) and that sin which so readily (deftly and cleverly) clings to and entangles us, and let us run with patient endurance and steady and active persistence the appointed course of the race that is set before us, Looking away [from all that will distract] to Jesus, Who is the Leader and the Source of our faith [giving the first incentive for our belief] and is also its Finisher [bringing it to maturity and perfection]. He, for the joy [of obtaining the prize] that was set before Him, endured the cross, despising and ignoring the shame, and is now seated at the right hand of the throne of God. [Ps. 110:1.]’
Hebrews 12:1-2
Every day it is important to turn to God’s Word as we start the day. Throughout the day it is important to reflect on and meditate on God’s Words. It’s powerful and useful for every situation we will face.
Let’s be the dads who surround ourselves with good role models. Let’s be the dads who surround ourselves with men who can witness and testify over and into our lives the truth! Let’s be the dads who surround ourselves with men who live and model how to strip off and throw aside every encumbrance and unnecessary weight so that we can see and experience the removal of what holds us down and holds us back. Let’s be the dads who surround ourselves with men who live and model how to strip off and throw aside every sin so as to teach and train us on how to escape and break free from our sins which so readily, deftly, and cleverly cling to and entangles us! Let’s be the dads who run with patient endurance and steady and active persistence on the appointed course of the race that is set before us! Let’s be the dads who are focused and look away from all that will distract us from Jesus, Who is the Leader and the Source of our faith, giving the first incentive for our belief, and is also its Finisher who is bringing it to maturity and perfection! Let’s be the dads who choose to live with joy throughout this journey called life just as Jesus and Paul have modeled before us! Let’s be the dads who grab hold of the reality that we can have joy no matter what comes our way! Let’s be the dads who choose to live with joy even when we face trials of many kinds because we know to ‘Be assured that the testing of your faith [through experience] produces endurance [leading to spiritual maturity, and inner peace]. And let endurance have its perfect result and do a thorough work, so that you may be perfect and completely developed [in your faith], lacking in nothing. ‘ (James 1:3-4) Let’s be the dads who choose joy just as Jesus did know that for the joy of obtaining the prize that was set before Him, endured the cross, despising and ignoring the shame, and is now seated at the right hand of the throne of God! Let’s be the dads who choose to live with joy just as Paul tells us to continuously rejoice in Philippians.
Many years back, I took a hold of this joy and started a trend of saying “Happy Today”. I even started saying Happy and inserted the days of the week and created a Happy Today Calendar too. I remember giving the assumptions that went along with it as being first that you are alive and second that no matter what happens. So let’s start this day which for me is a Monday (Happy Monday) filled with the joy of the Lord as our strength!
Today’s devotional has been provided to us by Tim Ferrara (Discerning Dad) | Twitter, Instagram, YouTube | Linktree!
Reading through today’s devotional, here are some takeaways for me: (check out the devotional on your own too to see if you pick up other nuggets, and please share your findings in the comments)
For more information, please visit: https://linktr.ee/discerning_dad
Takeaways from Today’s Devotional:
“In a crisis, we need to keep our eyes on the rescuer“
- Today’s devotional gets us into the topic of focusing, keeping our eyes on through a story on first responders where it shares:
- Let’s be the dads who when faced with a situation keep our eyes on Jesus in order to remain calm, can receive instructions, and do not get overwhelmed by the situation and start to panic!
- Let’s be the dads who when our wives are faced with a situation help them to keep their eyes on Jesus in order to remain calm, receive instructions, and not get overwhelmed by the situation and start to panic!
- Let’s be the dads who when our kids are faced with a situation help them to keep their eyes on Jesus in order to remain calm, receive instructions, and not get overwhelmed by the situation and start to panic!
- Let’s be the dads who when people in our world are faced with a situation help them to keep their eyes on Jesus in order to remain calm, receive instructions, and not get overwhelmed by the situation and start to panic!
- Let’s be the dads who realize that keeping our eyes on Jesus will help us to follow His instructions and survive!
- Let’s be the dads who keep our eyes on Jesus so that we won’t be overwhelmed by the wind, the waves, or the danger but rather can make it through and escape the danger!
- Let’s be the dads who keep our focus on Jesus so that we can walk out our today with Him no matter where it takes us!
- Let’s be the dads who answer the call “in Hebrews to keep our eyes fixed on Jesus as we run the Christian race“!
- Let’s be the dads who realize that the author of Hebrews is talking to us and as such we need to keep our focus on Jesus!
- Let’s be the dads who aren’t “easily distracted by the cares of this world“!
- Let’s be the dads who are able to keep our focus on Jesus even “when problems arise or a crisis hits“!
- Let’s be the dads who don’t get easily “overwhelmed by the situations” that come our way because we are choosing to walk it out with Jesus and keep our focus on Him!
- Let’s be the dads who focus on the fundamentals that include keeping our focus on Jesus, especially during the “good times” as it will help to “build our foundation on the Rock of our salvation“!
- Today’s devotional speaks to this when it says:
- Today’s devotional closes out with the story of Peter, giving us instruction, and a challenge to reflect upon when it says:
- “Jesus called Peter out of the boat to walk on water and everything was fine until Peter took his eyes off Jesus. He focused on the wind and the waves instead of the Lord. “
- “Having discernment in our decisions requires us to keep our eyes fixed on Jesus. Decisions are easier and aligned with the will of God and the truth of the Bible when we don’t lose sight of this simple, yet not to be overlooked, fact in the Christian race.“
- “Reflect: How have you taken your eyes off Jesus recently? What ways can you commit to today to stay focused on keeping Jesus first in your decision making? “
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