Sniffing along the trail, our Rottweiler, Minna, suddenly stopped. Noting her rigid stance, perked ears and fixed gaze into the woods, I suspected she track a deer.
“No Minna, come,” I said firmly, tugging on the leash.
She didn’t budge.
“Minna, leave it!” I told her.
Usually obedient to voice commands, she ignored me, eyes riveted into the woods. Kneeling before her, I grasped her collar with one hand and gently patted her head with the other. My face before her, I looked directly into her eyes, breaking her gaze. She immediately softened both her stance and her attitude. After a moment of staring into my eyes, she obediently resumed our trip.
I, and maybe you, can oh-too-easily relate to Minna.
I can obey most of the Lord’s commands easily. But occasionally, a ‘deer’ stumbles upon my path. Temptation appears and can oust my obedience, rupture my resolve, and wreck my reverence for God’s rules.
Our Creator, understands how that easily happens to humans. God knows how temptation can affect us. He comprehends it can command our gaze, captivate our attention and even rivet us in place. It can be just plain near impossible to rip our gaze from it in an attempt to focus on anything else.
But God doesn’t leave us fighting alone.
He kneels down to our level, meets our gaze, and speaks lovingly and firmly to our hearts, “Leave it, my child, this is not for you.”
He also promises us in 1 Corinthians 10:13b that “He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.” (NIV)
Even when a ‘deer’ seems a challenge to only you or me, we are reminded, “No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind.” Let’s not believe the lie that ‘I’m the only one ever to struggle with this.‘
Hebrews 12:1b encourages us to “Throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles.” The how is in the very next verse: “fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith.”
When Minna tore her gaze from the woods and looked into my eyes, she saw someone who cared about her well-being, someone who loved her.
When we can tear our eyes away and look directly to our heavenly Father, we too will find someone who cares about our well-bring and loves us more than we can imagine. God sees our struggles for obedience. He knows when temptation captivates our attention. He lovingly provides a way out, each and every time.
The first step is to tear our eyes from our ‘deer’ and fix them on Jesus. Please join my in prayer to do just that.
Prayer: Dear Lord, Thank You for knowing me so well. You know my struggles, what tempts me. Please remind me where to fix my focus and thank You for always providing a way out of temptation. In Jesus’ name, Amen.