Fixing Our Eyes on Jesus - Freedom Ministry

Fixing Our Eyes on Jesus: The Power of Focus

Key Takeaways

What you focus on shapes your whole life: Where you fix your attention directs your identity, your sense of belonging and your purpose. Looking at Jesus gives clarity, hope and direction.
Jesus shows you who you really are: You are not defined by job, failure or others’ opinions. You are chosen, redeemed, loved and seated with Christ. You identity is received, not achieved.
Belonging starts with Jesus, not the world: You do not have to fight for approval or fit into culture. In Christ, you already belong to Him first, and to a global family of believers.
Your purpose flows from seeing Jesus clearly: Your first calling is to know Jesus and reflect Him. You make a difference when your life points to Him – in your work, relationships and service.
Freedom and victory come from a fixed gaze: When your eyes stay on Jesus not comparison, fear or distraction as anxiety loses power. Trials do not defeat you and your impact grows naturally.

Introduction

Where we fix our eyes determines the direction of our lives. This fundamental truth shapes who we become, where we belong and the impact we make in this world. The Bible consistently teaches that our gaze matters profoundly. When we lift our eyes to Jesus, we discover the answers to life’s deepest questions: Who am I? Where do I fit? What difference can I make?

The apostle Paul wrote from a prison cell, chains binding his body yet his spirit soaring free. He understood something critical that many of us struggle to grasp: our circumstances do not determine our spiritual reality. Our focus does.

In Hebrews 12:1-2 (NKJV), he invites us into this transformative practice: “Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”

This is not merely a nice suggestion. This is the pathway to freedom, victory and the calling that only you can fulfil.

Understanding What It Means to Fix Our Eyes on Jesus

The Nature of Our Gaze

Fixing our eyes on Jesus involves far more than occasional glances skyward during moments of crisis. The Greek word “aphorao” in Hebrews 12:2 carries the sense of looking away from other things to focus intently on one object. It suggests a deliberate turning away and a sustained, purposeful attention. This practice shapes our perception, influences our decisions and ultimately transforms our identity.

When we fix our eyes on Jesus, we employ our spiritual vision. Just as our physical eyes direct our body’s movement, our spiritual gaze directs our soul’s journey. We cannot walk confidently where we cannot see clearly. Jesus Himself said in Matthew 6:22 (NKJV): “The lamp of the body is the eye. If therefore your eye is good, your whole body will be full of light.”

Why Our Focus Matters

Our minds are not the enemy’s dumping ground. We possess the mind of Christ.

In 1 Corinthians 2:16 (NKJV), Paul declares: “For who has known the mind of the Lord that he may instruct Him? But we have the mind of Christ.” This astounding reality means we have access to divine wisdom, perspective and discernment. Yet this precious gift remains dormant if we scatter our attention across the trivial, the destructive and the temporary.

The peace of God protects both our hearts and minds. Philippians 4:6-7 (NKJV) reveals this protection mechanism: “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds through Christ Jesus.” This guarding operates as a sentinel, standing watch over our inner world when we deliberately direct our focus upward and our gratitude outward.

The Three Dimensions of Fixing Our Eyes on Jesus

Dimension One: Identity – Who Am I?

When you fix your eyes on Jesus, you discover who you truly are. Your identity becomes anchored not in your circumstances, performance or the opinions of others, but in Christ’s finished work and your relationship with Him.

In Colossians 3:1-2 (NKJV), Paul writes: “If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth.” This passage shifts our identity’s foundation. You were raised with Christ. You already possess a resurrection identity. Yet this identity requires active cultivation through intentional focus.

Jesus provides the template for all authentic identity. He knew exactly who He was and whose He was. He never doubted His origin, His purpose or His Father’s love. In John 10:14 (NKJV), Jesus declares: “I am the good shepherd; and I know My sheep, and am known by My own.” These mutual knowing forms the basis of genuine identity. You are known by Jesus. Completely. Intimately. Without reservation.

Your identity in Christ includes several immutable truths:

You are chosen: Ephesians 1:4 (NKJV) states: “Just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love.” Before you took your first breath, Christ chose you. This choosing was not based on what you would accomplish or become. It rested entirely on His sovereign grace.

You are redeemed. In Ephesians 1:7 (NKJV), Paul affirms: “In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace.” Your past does not define your future. Your failures do not determine your value. Redemption means you have been bought back, restored and made new.

You are beloved. John 3:16 (NKJV) captures this: “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” You are not merely tolerated by God. You are loved with an infinite, eternal, self-sacrificing love. This love does not depend on your performance. It flows from God’s essential nature.

You are seated in heavenly places. Ephesians 2:6 (NKJV) declares: “And raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus.” Your true home, your true position, your true status already exists in the realms above. This is not future reality. This is your present spiritual identity.

When you fix your eyes on Jesus, you see yourself through His eyes. You recognise your identity not as defined by your job title, your bank balance, your family role or your past mistakes. You recognise yourself as chosen, redeemed, beloved and seated in the heavenly realms with Christ.

Dimension Two: Belonging – Where Do I Fit?

Fixing your eyes on Jesus answers the profound human longing for belonging. You fit not in isolation but in relationship. You belong first to Christ, and through Christ, you belong to a worldwide family of believers.

Jesus modelled perfect belonging. He never wavered in His sense of belonging to His Father. In John 8:29 (NKJV), Jesus says: “And He who sent Me is with Me. The Father has not left Me alone, for I always do those things that please Him.” This unshakeable communion with the Father sustained Jesus through every trial. He knew He belonged completely.

When you fix your eyes on Jesus, you enter this same realm of belonging. You no longer search for approval or significance among earthly sources. You find your primary belonging in relationship with Christ. Romans 12:2 (NKJV) instructs: “And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.” This transformation occurs as you redirect your gaze from the world’s standards to Christ’s reality.

Belonging to Christ places you within His body, the church. In 1 Corinthians 12:12-13 (NKJV), Paul explains: “For as the body is one and has many members, but all the members of that one body, being many, are one body, so also is Christ. For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free—and have all been made to drink into one Spirit.” You belong to a community of faith that transcends culture, geography and social status.

This belonging requires that you fix your eyes on Jesus alongside others who do the same. Hebrews 10:24-25 (NKJV) emphasises: “And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.” Community becomes the context in which your faith grows, your gifts develop, and your sense of belonging deepens.

Furthermore, your belonging to Christ connects you to something far larger than yourself. You belong to an eternal purpose. God is redeeming all things through Christ. You participate in this cosmic restoration. When you fix your eyes on Jesus, you see how your individual life interlocks with God’s grand narrative of redemption.

Dimension Three: Purpose – What Difference Can I Make?

The question “What difference can I make?” finds its ultimate answer only when your eyes rest on Jesus.

Your purpose emerges from His purpose.

Your calling flows from His commission.

Your impact radiates from His transformative work in your life.

Jesus lived with crystal clarity about His purpose. In John 17:4 (NKJV), Jesus prays: “I have glorified You on the earth. I have finished the work which You have given Me to do.” Jesus understood His mission and accomplished it with precision. He fulfilled His unique calling completely.

When you fix your eyes on Jesus, you discover that your primary purpose is relational, not transactional. Your first calling is to know Jesus and make Him known. In Matthew 22:37-38 (NKJV), Jesus teaches: “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the first and great commandment.” All other purposes flow from this foundational orientation.

Your secondary purpose emerges from this primary love: you reflect Christ’s character and conduct to a watching world. In Matthew 5:14-16 (NKJV), Jesus declares: “You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.” Your life becomes a living testimony to Christ’s reality and relevance.

God has designed you with unique gifts, passions, experiences and perspectives. These elements combine to create a calling that only you can fulfil.

In 1 Peter 4:10-11 (NKJV), Peter writes: “As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. If anyone speaks, let him speak as the oracles of God. If anyone ministers, let him do it as with the ability which God supplies, that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belong the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.”

Your difference begins where your gifts meet the world’s genuine needs. As you fix your eyes on Jesus, He redirects your attention, realigns your priorities and reveals where your unique contribution matters most. You discover that your work, relationships, creativity and service all become conduits through which Christ’s kingdom advances.

Obstacles to Fixing Our Eyes on Jesus

The Weight of Comparison

One of the most subtle yet powerful obstacles to fixing your eyes on Jesus is comparison. When you measure your identity, belonging and purpose against others’ trajectories, you inevitably stumble. Social media amplifies this tendency exponentially. You see curated highlights from others’ lives and conclude that your own life falls short.

Fixing your eyes on Jesus requires deliberately turning away from comparison. Galatians 6:4-5 (NKJV) instructs: “But let each one examine his own work, and then he will have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another. For each one shall bear his own load.” Your calling is particular to you. Your pace is suited to you. Your timeline reflects God’s specific design for your life. Comparison steals the joy that comes from celebrating your own unique journey with Christ.

The Anxiety of Circumstance

Life brings genuine hardship. Financial pressures mount. Relationships fracture. Health fails. Injustice wounds. When external circumstances dominate your attention, you naturally feel overwhelmed, defeated and faithless. Yet Paul wrote about rejoicing whilst chained in a Roman prison. How?

In Philippians 4:4-5 (NKJV), Paul declares: “Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice! Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand.” Notice that Paul does not deny his circumstances. He simply refuses to allow those circumstances to dominate his spiritual vision. He fixes his eyes on a reality larger than his chains: the Lord is at hand. Christ is present. God remains sovereign. Grace remains available.

When anxiety threatens to consume you, fixing your eyes on Jesus becomes an act of rebellion against fear. It is a deliberate refusal to grant your circumstances final authority over your heart and mind. This does not mean denying reality or pretending difficulties do not exist. It means positioning those difficulties within the larger context of God’s faithfulness and Christ’s victory.

The Distraction of the Temporary

Everything in our culture screams for our attention. Entertainment options multiply endlessly. Notifications interrupt constantly. The pace accelerates relentlessly. In this noise-saturated environment, fixing our eyes on Jesus becomes increasingly difficult yet increasingly essential.

Colossians 3:2 (NKJV) addresses this directly: “Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth.” This verse does not prohibit engagement with earthly life. Rather, it establishes a hierarchy of attention. What receives your best mental energy? What commands your deepest contemplation? What shapes your fundamental orientation?

Jesus challenged His followers to examine their priorities carefully. In Matthew 6:33 (NKJV), He teaches: “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.” Jesus promises that when you prioritise seeking His kingdom, practical provisions and needs find their proper place. This is not about neglecting responsibility. It is about establishing the correct order: spiritual reality first, practical reality second.

The Deception of Self-Sufficiency

Perhaps the most dangerous obstacle to fixing your eyes on Jesus is the lie that you can manage your own life adequately. Modern culture celebrates self-reliance, independence and personal achievement. Yet spiritual transformation requires radical dependence on Christ.

In John 15:5 (NKJV), Jesus makes this clear: “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.” This is not hyperbole. It is spiritual reality. Apart from Christ, your efforts produce no genuine transformation, no authentic impact, no lasting kingdom fruit. You may achieve external success, acquire possessions and gain recognition. Yet these accomplishments wither without Christ as their source and centre.

Fixing your eyes on Jesus requires admitting your fundamental dependence on Him. This admission paradoxically produces freedom. When you stop trying to save yourself, when you cease attempting to generate meaning through personal effort alone, you discover that Christ has already accomplished everything necessary. You are invited to trust His finished work and cooperate with His present work.

Practical Disciplines for Fixing Your Eyes on Jesus

Prayer: Speaking to Jesus

Prayer is the primary means by which you fix your eyes on Jesus. Prayer is not primarily about requesting favours from a distant deity. Prayer is intimate communication with the God who loves you and knows you completely. Through prayer, you turn your attention directly toward Christ and align your heart with His.

In Philippians 4:6-7 (NKJV), Paul teaches: “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds through Christ Jesus.” Notice the progression: anxiety gives way to prayer; prayer is accompanied by thanksgiving; thanksgiving opens the way for God’s peace to guard your inner world.

Establish a regular prayer rhythm. This might involve praying first thing each morning, praying during a lunch break, praying whilst walking or praying before sleep. The specific time matters less than the consistency. Through regular prayer, you build a habit of turning your gaze toward Jesus throughout each day.

Scripture Meditation: Seeing Jesus in God’s Word

The Bible reveals Jesus. In Luke 24:27 (NKJV), the risen Jesus explains to disciples on the road to Emmaus: “And beginning at Moses and all the Prophets, He expounded to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself.” Scripture provides the primary means by which you see Jesus clearly and accurately.

Establish a practice of daily Bible reading. Choose a translation that reads clearly to you. As you read, ask the Holy Spirit to illuminate your understanding. Pay particular attention to passages that reveal Christ’s character, His teachings, His actions and His promises. The Gospels obviously present Jesus directly, but He appears throughout Scripture. The Old Testament anticipates Him through prophecy and typology. The epistles apply His resurrection reality to your present circumstances.

Move beyond mere information gathering. Meditate on what you read. Let passages sink deeply into your consciousness and conscience. Memorise key verses. Return to them repeatedly, allowing them to reshape your thinking and reorient your perspective. As you internalise Scripture, you programme your mind with divine truth. When challenges arise, these memorised verses surface to remind you of God’s faithfulness and Christ’s power.

Worship: Celebrating Jesus

Worship involves offering your focused attention, affection and allegiance to Jesus. Worship need not occur only within corporate gathering, though corporate worship powerfully reinforces individual devotion. Worship can happen as you drive, as you work, as you exercise or as you move through daily tasks.

Singing is a particularly effective worship practice. The Psalms invite us to sing to the Lord a new song. Whether you sing alone or with others, whether your voice carries any musical quality or not, singing engages your entire being in fixing your eyes on Jesus. Music bypasses intellectual barriers and reaches the heart directly. Many people find that they remember Scripture more easily when set to music, noting that some lyrics are not biblical. Worship songs combine truth and emotion in ways that reshape your spiritual perspective.

Beyond singing, worship involves declaring Christ’s excellence aloud. Speak prayers of thanksgiving and praise. Articulate specific reasons you worship Jesus: His holiness, His mercy, His power, His faithfulness, His love. This active declaration strengthens your conviction and deepens your devotion.

Service: Loving What Jesus Loves

Fixing your eyes on Jesus naturally overflows into loving service. As you contemplate Christ’s sacrifice and compassion, your heart is moved to serve others as Jesus served. In John 13:34-35 (NKJV), Jesus teaches His disciples: “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”

Service keeps your eyes on Jesus by reminding you that your life exists for purposes beyond personal comfort or achievement. As you serve others, you experience the reality of Christ working through you. You discover the profound joy that comes from contributing to someone else’s welfare. You encounter Jesus in the faces of those you serve.

In Matthew 25:40 (NKJV), Jesus reveals: “And the King will answer and say to them, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to me.’”

Community: Growing with Others

You cannot sustain your focus on Jesus in isolation. God designed you for community. The church provides the context in which your faith deepens, your gifts develop, and your calling clarifies. Hebrews 12:1 refers to being “surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses.” This image emphasises that you run your race in community, encouraged by those who have run before you and alongside those running with you.

Establish meaningful connections within a local church community. Participate in corporate worship, small group study, prayer and service. Share your struggles and victories with trusted believers. Allow others to speak truth into your life and challenge you toward deeper faithfulness. Offer the same encouragement and accountability to them. In this mutuality, all believers fix their eyes more steadily on Jesus.

Obedience: Translating Vision into Action

Fixing your eyes on Jesus ultimately matters only as it changes how you live. Obedience is the proof that your gaze has genuinely shifted. In John 14:15 (NKJV), Jesus declares: “If you love Me, keep My commandments.” Love for Christ expresses itself through willing obedience to His teachings and direction.

Obedience begins small. It occurs in daily decisions: Do I speak truthfully or craft a convenient lie? Do I forgive this person or harbour resentment? Do I choose integrity or take the easier path? As you consistently choose obedience in small matters, you build spiritual muscle. You train your will to align with Christ’s will. You establish patterns that make larger acts of obedience possible.

Notice that obedience follows faith. You do not obey Jesus because you understand every reason for His commands. You obey because you trust His wisdom, goodness and authority. In Proverbs 3:5-6 (NKJV), Solomon advises: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.” As you submit your understanding to Christ’s superior wisdom, your path becomes clear and your footsteps become sure.

Freedom, Victory and Impact

The Freedom That Comes From Fixed Vision

When you fix your eyes on Jesus, you experience authentic freedom. This freedom operates differently from what the world offers. The world promises freedom through the absence of constraints. Christ offers freedom through right relationship and proper alignment.

In John 8:31-32 (NKJV), Jesus teaches: “Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, ‘If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.’” This freedom emerges from truth, not from licence. It flows from abiding in Christ’s word, not from rejecting all guidelines. True freedom means you are no longer enslaved to others’ opinions, no longer imprisoned by shame, no longer bound by fears about the future.

Fixing your eyes on Jesus liberates you from the tyranny of comparison. You no longer need to match others’ achievements or match others’ pace. Your unique identity in Christ satisfies you. Fixing your eyes on Jesus liberates you from anxiety about provision. God has proven His faithfulness across centuries and millennia. He will not abandon you now. Fixing your eyes on Jesus liberates you from despair about meaning. Your life matters. Your calling is real. Your impact is significant.

The Victory That Sustains Through Trial

Paul experienced severe physical hardship. He writes in 2 Corinthians 11:24-25 (NKJV): “Five times I received forty stripes minus one. Three times I was beaten with rods; once I was stoned; three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I have been in the deep.” Yet during these trials, Paul maintained perspective. How? He fixed his eyes on Jesus.

In Romans 8:37-39 (NKJV), Paul proclaims: “Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Notice that Paul does not deny that trials exist. He does not pretend that suffering does not hurt. He simply refuses to grant these adversities final authority. He places them within a larger context: the love of God in Christ Jesus. This love is unshakeable, permanent and all-encompassing. No circumstance, no matter how severe, can diminish it or negate it. Victory, in this sense, does not mean absence of suffering. Victory means that suffering cannot separate you from Christ or prevent you from accomplishing your calling.

Fixing your eyes on Jesus provides the spiritual sustenance necessary to persevere through difficulty. As you contemplate Christ’s character, His faithfulness and His ultimate triumph, you find courage for today and hope for tomorrow. You discover that trials can deepen your faith rather than destroy it, that adversity can develop your character rather than derail your calling, that suffering can produce compassion and wisdom rather than bitterness and cynicism.

The Impact That Only You Can Make

Your unique contribution matters. God has designed you with specific gifts, perspectives and experiences that position you to serve in ways no one else can. As you fix your eyes on Jesus and align your life with His purposes, your impact radiates outward in ways both visible and invisible.

In 1 Corinthians 12:7 (NKJV), Paul teaches: “But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all.” Your gifts are not for your own benefit alone. They exist to serve others and advance God’s kingdom. As you steward these gifts faithfully, you contribute to God’s purposes in ways that matter eternally.

Your impact begins with your own transformation. As you fix your eyes on Jesus, you become progressively more Christ-like. In 2 Corinthians 3:18 (NKJV), Paul writes: “But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.” This transformation naturally influences those around you. Your peace becomes contagious. Your joy proves compelling. Your faith invites others to consider Christ.

Beyond personal influence, God may call you to specific roles and responsibilities where your impact amplifies. You might lead in your workplace, shepherd in your church, teach in a school, create through art or music, heal through medicine, build through construction or business, nurture through parenthood or mentoring. Whatever your calling, fixing your eyes on Jesus ensures that it flows from His purposes and serves His kingdom.

Conclusion: Lifting Your Eyes to Jesus

The question of who you are, where you fit and what difference you make finds its complete answer only in Jesus. No alternative source can provide the clarity, security and purpose that He offers. When you fix your eyes on Jesus, you discover:

Your identity as chosen, redeemed, beloved and seated in heavenly places with Christ. You no longer need to create identity through achievement or performance. You receive it as a gift from a gracious God.
Your genuine belonging within Christ’s family, connected to believers across the globe and throughout history. You are never alone. You are always known and always wanted.
Your significant calling to love Christ supremely and reflect His character to a watching world. Your life matters. Your work counts. Your influence reaches further than you know.

The apostle Paul invited believers in Philippi to rejoice always, to pray always, to thank God always and to fix their eyes on Jesus always. This same invitation extends to you today. You can choose to fix your eyes on Jesus. You can deliberately turn your gaze away from the temporary and toward the eternal. You can train your attention to rest repeatedly on Christ’s faithfulness, Christ’s power and Christ’s love.

This practice requires discipline. It demands ongoing choice. It remains necessary because the world constantly competes for your attention, and the enemy ceaselessly works to convince you that Jesus cannot be trusted with your life.

The rewards far exceed the effort. As you fix your eyes on Jesus, the peace of God guards your hearts and minds. Freedom replaces anxiety. Victory sustains you through trials. Purpose fills your days. Your calling clarifies. Your impact extends.

May you learn and grow in contemplating the Lord’s glory. May your eyes be lifted to the One who is holy and righteous, faithful and true. May eternity be written upon your heart and mind. And may you discover, in depths you never imagined possible, that fixing your eyes on Jesus transforms everything.