Thursday, January 27, 2011

Blinders


"Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us," Hebrews 12:1, NKJV

We watched the movie Secretariat last night. Have you seen it? Great movie. Loved their inclusion of “Jesus” elements, such a rare thing. My husband and I looked at each other a few times with surprise. “Are they really doing this?” Oooh, I love “seeing” Jesus in films.

Secretariat was a famous race horse. While we watched, I noticed the race horses wear blinders on either side of their eyes (forgive me if this isn’t the proper term). These “guide” their attention to straight ahead. The animals probably don’t get as spooked by the horses on either side of them. They can focus straight ahead on their goal—that finish line.

God gives us free will, but sometimes wouldn’t it be helpful to put on spiritual blinders? We wouldn’t get so caught up in:

~ competition
~ comparison
~ worry
~ appearances
~ circumstances

Let's make this our prayer: Lord, keep me focused on the finish line ahead so I can “run with endurance the race set before me.”

6 comments:

Mary E Hanks said...

Oh, so good. What a great idea! I could use spiritual blinders on to keep me focused on Jesus, and I could use them on when I'm doing daily tasks around the house when I'd much rather be writing.

Annette M. Irby said...

Good point, Mary. We still have to do what needs doing and if we're focused elsewhere, we're double-minded (read: ineffective, or at least not as effective). Plus, I've been thinking about holiness and how we have to shield our eyes from peripheral stuff, ya know? Keep our eyes fixed on Jesus! Thanks for reading!

Marianne Evans said...

The world and our culture strives to pull us in so many different directions - and the result is stress, and the devil's own attempt to keep us from focusing on Christ and God's love. Those blinders can come in *real* handy, Annette!! :-) Great post! God bless.

Miawa said...

Amen to that, sometimes it's difficult to stay focused with so much going on around us. This earth is full of worldly distractions.

Truth lover said...

Secretariat was a great movie. I loved what you wrote.
It is a super post!
I loved the quote-

Chris Chenery: It's not whether they think we won. It's whether we think we won.

Ephesians 3:11-12 (King James Version)
11According to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord:
12In whom we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of him.

Love ( Founder YUP/ Enlive.Inn) said...

all i can say is great thought and thanx a million for sharing..:)