The Bethel song "It is well" has the line: "Through it all, through it all, my eyes are on You". The other day I suddenly realised that it is only well with my soul, in daily experience, when my eyes are on Jesus; when they are fixed on Him: who He is and all He has done and continues to do. Which begs the question: where else might they be fixed? The song continues "Let go my soul and trust in Him; the waves and wind still know His name". What might I need to let go of?

"Holy brothers and sisters … fix your thoughts on Jesus" (Heb 3:1). "Let us strip off every weight … and run with determination the [personal] race that lies before us. Let us keep our eyes fixed on Jesus … Think of what he went through; how he put up with so much hatred from sinners! Do not let yourselves become discouraged and give up" (Heb 12:1-3).

"We do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away … inwardly we are being renewed day by day … so we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen" (2 Cor 4:14-18). "Abraham was looking forward to the city … whose architect and builder is God … [all the heroes of faith] were longing for a better country – a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God for he has prepared a city for them" (Heb 11:10, 16). Just meditate on that!

"When the disciples saw Jesus walking on the water … they were terrified … But Jesus spoke to them at once. 'Don’t be afraid … Take courage. I AM here!' Then Peter called to him, 'Lord, if it’s really you, tell me to come to you, walking on the water.' 'Yes, come,' Jesus said. So Peter went over the side of the boat and walked on the water toward Jesus. But when he saw the strong wind and the waves, he was terrified and began to sink. 'Save me, Lord!' he shouted. Jesus immediately reached out and grabbed him" (Mat 14:25-31).

"Satan … was hurled to the earth … Then I heard a loud voice in heaven say: 'Now have come the salvation … and the kingdom of our God, and the authority of his Christ. For the accuser of our brothers and sisters, who accuses them before our God day and night, has been hurled down. They triumphed over him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony; they did not love their lives so much that they were afraid to die'" (Rev 12:7-11).

I felt God say to me that my eyes are too often fixed on myself; on my own sin and shortcomings; that not loving myself in a godly way was prolonging the problem. He also said I gave far too much attention to the accusations of the evil one; and that I didn't long for my heavenly country enough. What might it be for you? What mountain might be diverting your gaze from Him? What unexpected heart-breaking turn of events might be absorbing your attention? He is with you. Are you being treated with contempt? Are you in the midst of a storm? When Peter walked on water, he had his eyes fixed on Jesus. He wasn’t thinking about himself. It was when he took his eyes off Jesus that he began to sink.

"Take a new grip with your tired hands and stand firm on your shaky legs. Mark out a straight path for your feet. Then those who follow you, though they are weak and lame, will not stumble and fall but become strong" (Heb 12:12-13).