I was watching some of my young gymnasts train for vault today. As they sprinted down the vault run their heads moved up and down as their eyes looked down at the floor or up at the ceiling. One athlete ran while glancing from side to side. Apparently looking straight ahead at the vault table is a difficult thing to do. Watching these girls run, I realized the distractions in the gym were more interesting to them than the vault table directly in front of them.
Sometimes the world looks interesting. For instance a shiny, black Tesla can grab my attention. When my friends go on an exotic vacation I start choosing my own vacation spot. New clothes, technology and even houses can catch my eye. But if I am looking at all the baubles and beads of this world I am ignoring my Savior. Some days it is difficult to gaze directly at Christ on the cross—His tortured body writhing in pain for my sins, His precious blood dripping down His face for my peace, His side pierced for my iniquities. This sight is gruesome.
But I keep gazing straight into His divine face, and His holiness shines through. The glories of heaven are reflected in His loving eyes, and the things of this world fade away in the light of His resurrection.
Proverbs says, “Fix your gaze directly before you” (4:25). Directly before you is Christ the Savior and risen Lord.
Photo by Slava Bowman
Denise Larson Cooper has a passion for Christ and sharing His Word. A wife and mother of two daughters, Denise currently works as a gymnastic coach.
Subscribe to Ordinary Days on iTunes!
https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/ordinary-days/id1339262108
Follow Denise Larson Cooper on Social Media!
https://www.facebook.com/OrdinaryDaysDevotionals
https://www.instagram.com/deniselarsoncooper
https://twitter.com/ordinarydaysdev
Check Out Denise’s Books!
Godnesia: Keeping God in Mind Each Day http://amzn.to/2GSquOD
Ordinary Days With an Extraordinary Savior – http://amzn.to/2mFGASB
Life Is a Metaphor: Recognizing God in the Everyday – http://amzn.to/2De1rU2