“Let your eyes look straight ahead; fix your gaze directly before you.” Proverbs 4: 24
In March 2022, Duke University Coach Mike Krzyzewski was coaching his last home game before retiring against their fierce rival, University of North Carolina (UNC). It would have been the ultimate sendoff for Coach K – beating UNC one last time. But North Carolina under first year head coach Hubert Davis ignored all the attention surrounding the final home game for the retiring Hall of Fame coach, as well as the fourth-ranked Duke’s emotionally charged, rowdier-than-usual crowd. Instead, the rival Tar Heels walked into Cameron Indoor Stadium and fearlessly spoiled Coach K’s perfect send-off to the postseason by beating them 94-81. During the post-game press conference, UNC Coach Davis spoke about this unexpected victory. He spoke openly and at length about his faith in God. Davis quoted Proverbs 4:25 in his postgame press conference, “Let your eyes look straight ahead; fix your gaze directly before you.” This verse was a constant reminder for his team during the 2021-2022 season.
When thinking about how we look at things, two words come to mind—gaze and glance. A gaze is a prolonged look at something or someone with focus. A glance is a momentary visual awareness. As Jesus followers, our gaze is to be on Jesus. We are only to glance at our problems and distractions. When we keep our gaze on Jesus and our glance on the non-Jesus challenges, we’re where we need to be. When our gaze settles on our problems and we only glance at Jesus, we’re in for a struggle.
Submitted by Jan Lee
PRAYERLoving God, help me to know that Jesus is always out ahead of me helping me to know how to follow. Amen.