Proverbs 4: King James Bible
Eyes on the Prize – Daily Devotion of Proverbs chapter four, Verses 25-27
25 Let thine eyes look right on, and let thine eyelids look straight before thee. 26 Ponder the path of thy feet, and let all thy ways be established. 27 Turn not to the right hand nor to the left: remove thy foot from evil.
Daily Inspiration from These Verses
Have you ever heard the expression to “put the blinders on?” This is a four word sum up of what these verses are saying as they relate to the path that the Father has placed us in.
That particular expression is best described in relation to how blinders are used for horses. Horse blinders are constructed from either leather or plastic that connect to a bridle or hood and prevent the horse from seeing behind or from side to side.
These are used to keep the horse from being either distracted or frightened from anything that is going on around them, so that they move ever forward, or wherever they are being lead to go. Notice, that their well-being is also in the hands (or at the mercy of) their handlers.
In our circumstances, we’re in the hand of the Lord. We truly in one sense are already wearing blinders, aren’t we? When we walk by faith, not by sight, we are just as blind to the things that are coming at us around corners out of our view, as a horse is with its blinders on. We place ourselves at the mercy of the God of all mercies, the Lord God Almighty, to take care of all the things that are just outside of our vision, and rely on his provisions.
Another sense of putting on the blinders is to avoid being distracted by the things of this world that come at us all the time. In the space of time it takes me to complete one of these devotionals, the amount of distractions can become overwhelming.
Sometimes we need to dig our heels in, and narrow our focus to keep from being distracted from what the Lord would rather us do in his service. Believe me, the world will never run out of methods to attempt to keep us from making progress down the path that has been fashioned for us.
If we keep our eyes on the prize, we’ll not remove ourselves from the track that leads to the finish line!
Related New Testament Scripture
Matthew 5: King James Bible
29 And if thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell.
Matthew 6: King James Bible
22 The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light. 23 But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness!
Luke 2: King James Bible
30 For mine eyes have seen thy salvation, 31 Which thou hast prepared before the face of all people; 32 A light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel.
Luke 9: King James Bible
62 And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.
2 Corinthians 4: King James Bible
18 While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.
Titus 2: King James Bible
13 Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;
Prayer – Eyes on the Prize
Father,
We are hit on every side with things that are designed to take our eyes off of you. Please help us and quicken us to always be mindful of these things, at the same time give us the strength to keep our eyes on you. Do what it takes for our minds to be set on the things that are above, and not on the things of this world. Thank you for all of your attention and loving kindness toward us your children. All these things we pray in the name of the Lord Jesus, our Savior and Champion.
Amen
Question
In any given day, how many different attempts are made to get your eyes off the prize?