Hebrew 12:1-2 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Having a deep, personal relationship with God is the most fulfilling thing in the world.  While that statement may sound a bit inflated, I am confident that it is wholly true.  Yet, for many of us it remains difficult to experience. In these recent days there have been many hindrances and entanglements to try and throw us off course. How do we grow a great relationship with someone that you cannot see, touch, hear or feel? The answer to that is simple, but challenging.  You can see, touch, hear and feel God – by faith.  Faith is that secret ingredient that enables your relationship with God to grow deeply and beautifully.  And, He has given us the perfect support for our faith, His Word!

Think of it this way.  God desires to have true, free relationship with all His children, yet if He manifests himself in even just 1 percent of His greatness and power, we would have no choice but to fall on our faces and worship Him.  So, to enable true freedom of choice, He created the truth of faith and gave us His Word as it’s foundation.  God’s Word is that bridge of life that enables us to take that beautiful walk into His presence and grow in a relationship with the creator of the world.  Through God’s Word we can fix our gaze on Jesus.  We can take all the pictures painted of Christ in the Scripture and imagine, conceptualize, who Jesus was and is.  Then suddenly, His Spirit comes to any soul who invites Him.  He breathes His life into us and we know, we experience, the love and truth of Christ.  We are never the same.  

I want to encourage you today to fix the gaze of your soul on Jesus. Go to His Word, pray, read, meditate on the truths of who God is.  This is a clear path to come to know, build an ever-deepening relationship with our God.  Fix your eyes on Jesus and never be the same.