When our son, Jonathan, was just a little boy, I took him into the backyard to teach him how to hit a baseball. I got us all set up at the right distance apart and said, "Here we go!" I tossed that ball, and he swung that bat and missed. I threw it again, and he swung again and missed again. But I was determined to teach him how to hit. I picked up that ball again and said, "Jonathan, I want you to look at this ball very carefully. I don't want you to take your eyes off of this ball. Don't look away, don't listen to the birds, don't pay attention to the wind. I want you to keep your eyes on the ball, and when you do, you're going to hit that ball." So I got ready and took a step back. He took his stance and kept his eyes right on that ball. I tossed it again, he took a swing, and this time, his bat made contact with the ball and off it went into the backyard!
On a spiritual level, we have to have this same kind of focus and fix our gaze on what God is doing in our lives. We have to look away from those things that are trying to distract and entangle us. God doesn't want us to get off course, but He wants us to set our sights on things above. Don't allow what others are doing to distract you. Don't worry if others are getting ahead of you. Ignore the rumbling voices and negative talk. Keep your eyes on Jesus, the Author and Finisher of your faith, and hit a homerun in life every single time!
"…Let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith…" (Hebrews 12:1-2, NIV)