How can I fix my eyes and heart on Jesus? As an ex-Muslim, I am facing mixed reactions from people.
Answer: What we fix our eyes upon……… we go toward and become like! When the Christ-
lover chooses to fix his/her eyes upon Jesus, the very Spirit of Christ, the Holy Spirit, will begin the process that changes a person into the very likeness of Jesus Christ.
- Colossians 3:2-4 Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory.
- 1 John 3:2 Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.
Dear Friend, the above truth seems so simplistic but it is fact because it is impossible for God to lie. The Bible contains the very words of God and those words contain the very power of God to accomplish what He has commanded. When our purpose is to “set our minds on things above” and to love Jesus Christ, God’s omnipotent power is immediately released to accomplish what He commanded us to do. God NEVER commands anything of us without FIRST providing the power to fulfill His command!
What we fix our eyes upon . . . we go toward and become like! To believe this and practice it daily will totally change your life in time into the increasingly clear likeness of Jesus Christ.
Since Adam and Eve’s creation, life has ALWAYS centered around the battle of the human heart and mind upon ONE critically important question from our Creator God to every individual, “[Insert your own name here], will you love Me?”
Do you love Me?
God, the Creator of all things, by His WORD brought into existence this beautiful place called earth, and He hung it in the heavens attached to nothing.
Then God created man to have fellowship with Him in a manner which He did not do for any other created being.
God created something within man, something mysterious, fragile yet eternal . . the human soul.
Then in His ultimate simplicity with perfect love and justice, He made man’s eternal well being, either unlimited joy or never-ending suffering, dependent upon on single question: Do you love Me?
A.W. Tozer – (1897-1963)
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Truth No. 1: We become like that which we love! Truth No. 2: What we love, we fix our eyes upon!
Truth No. 3: What we fix our eyes upon, we “go towards” and we give ourselves to that objective.
Truth No. 4: What we give ourselves to, changes us into its very likeness.
Truth No. 5: Truth No. 5: This change begins in the mind most notably through the eyes. That embryo thought is transferred to the heart providing the emotional power to shape our entire spiritual and physical being.
- 1 John 2:15-17 Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world. And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.
Truth No. 6: This “irreversible Spiritual Law” is just as certain as every “Natural Law”. Just as the natural law of gravity always draws the object back to earth, so this Spiritual Law concerning the Loves of our Heart, is always drawing us and changing us into the very likeness of who and what we love.
Truth No. 7: This Law of our Loves is constantly working in every decision we make. We are not static [unchanging] creatures. We are daily being changed into who and what we love.
Truth No. 8: Every human being has a “supernatural Father”. Adam and Eve sinned and through their disobedience rejected God’s love for them. At the very moment of their sin, Adam and Eve’s “spiritual connection to their loving Creator died. In truth, they chose to follow the lies of the devil who contradicted God when he told Adam and Eve, “You will NOT surely die.” [Genesis 3:4]. Adam and Eve chose to attempt to become their “own god” as they rejected God’s sovereign rule over their lives. All humanity since that time has been born into this world as a child of the devil and the sin-virus of death entered the bloodstream of the entire human race.
- John 8:44 You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it.
Truth No. 9: Unless we are “supernaturally born-again”, we will follow and BECOME INCREASING LIKE the devil and eventually join him in hell for all eternity in never ending pain and suffering. Yes, ALL PEOPLE are given a choice as to where they will spend all eternity, either in heaven or hell. Every person will die on earth either as a child of God or a child of the devil. Only those individuals who have been “born-again” by the Spirit of God will be His children in heaven forever.
- John 3:3 Jesus answered and said to him, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”
- John 3:14-17 . . even so must the Son of Man be lifted up [crucified unto death], that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.
Truth No. 10: The manner which God has chosen for us, His children, to be continually assured we have been “born-again” children of God, adopted into His family to spend all eternity in perfect love, joy and peace, is DAILY CHECKING our LOVES against this one single TEST: Today, do I love the things Jesus Christ loves and do I HATE the things Jesus Christ hates?
This daily test tells us that we have been given Christ’s very nature and are being changed into His likeness!
Dear New Friend, can you now see how eternally important it is to DAILY love Jesus and focus your eyes on Him? If you do this, His very Spirit, the Holy Spirit of God has charged Himself with the task of daily changing you into the likeness of Jesus.
To know God, we must learn what God reveals about Himself; His wisdom, His will and plans for our life. We learn what pleases and displeases Him by daily reading the Bible. When we trust God and submit to Him we increasingly draw closer to Him.
- 2 Timothy 3:16,17 All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.
At WasItForMe.com we provide resources to which may help others understand the scriptures and put those inspired words into personal actions. We are steadfastly determined to not only proclaim these great life-changing, life-shaping truths, but, also with equal determination, dedicated to putting before our fellow Christ-lovers practical daily, helpful action-oriented choices:
- You will note we have a devotional to begin each day. It will help us in our direction and focus on things above. You need to simply give us your email ID to receive these encouraging Bible truths.
- We have a stored tab of the Gospel of John sermons by a gifted teacher, Mr. Ashley Day. We urge everyone to listen to one of his sermons every evening with an open Bible and praying for clarity and understanding by the Holy Spirit. https://wasitforme.com/ gospel-of-john/
- We have stored some +150 videos which are simply the WORDS of the Bible set to pleasant backgrounds and read out load. You would do yourself a great favor by simply reviewing one our videos each day. https://vimeo.com/user146864084
- We have used FB communication to attempt to answer any of your questions and for your encouragement.
Why have we done all of this? Why have we gone to so much trouble and invested so much of our lives into this work?
You will note that we do NOT do this for any type of financial gain. We neither ask nor accept money for any of our resources nor do we sell advertising. Again, why have we done this?
Because we love you with the love of Jesus Christ who paid the death penalty for your sins so that you could be “born-again” of His spirit and be changed into His likeness to spend all eternity with Him in heaven.
When we love someone with Christ’s supernatural love, we cannot help but pour out everything we can to be united with them as brothers and sisters in heaven.
Our sole concern is that the Holy Spirit will make known to you this great life-changing truth, “Who you fix your eyes upon and who you love changes you into that likeness”.
If you believe, trust and follow Jesus in the pursuit of HIs kingdom and His righteousness, you will gladly commit to pursuing Him with all your heart and make Him the supreme love of your life.
- Matthew 6:33-34 But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.
When Jesus becomes the SUPREME LOVE of your life, you will NOT have any trouble with your focus. You will simply be daily feeding upon the eternal truths of God which will change you, day by day, into the likeness of the ONE you love, Jesus Christ.
Practical Application: You will find following our commentary on some practical steps which will help you set your affections on Jesus Christ and His kingdom.
With these commitments, you will find, in a great measure, a restoration of what Adam and Eve lost in the Garden of Eden because of their sin-choice. When Adam and Eve sinned and regent God’s sovereign rule in their lives, they lost “their daily communion, communication and relationship of walking with Jesus Christ.”
The Christ-follower on the road to heaven has embarked on a one-step-at-a-time journey. Each step involves making a choice. Each choice has this question by Jesus Christ as the “compass-direction-finder” to make certain we are choosing to walk in the Christ-honoring path, “Simon [insert your own name in place of Simon’s], do you love Me?
- Philippians 4:8 Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.
- Proverbs 23:7 For as he thinks in his heart, so is he.
- Colossians 3:5-9 Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. Because of these things the wrath of God is coming upon the sons of disobedience, in which you yourselves once walked when you lived in them. But now you yourselves are to put off all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth. Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds, and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him.
- Colossians 3:12-17 Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do. But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection. And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.
Practical Checkpoints to avoid in a God-rejecting world in your pursuit of His kingdom and HIs righteous:
- 1 John 2:15-17 Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world. And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.
The World = Malformed Relationships / Materialism / Captivity to Debt & Entertainment.
Malformed Relationships – pre-marital sex, fornication, abortion, adultery, divorce, homosexuality + lesbianism and the break-up of families.
Materialism + Debt: Buying bigger / multiple homes & automobiles, purchasing luxuries [items not paid for by cash] or paying for expensive vacations with money borrowed on credit
cards. This allows living beyond the limitations of the husband’s income, causing both parents to work. The crushing debt load leads to choosing bankruptcy which defrauds one’s neighbor.
Media and Entertainment – Decadent: Total absorption with unholy media, gaming, and pleasure-seeking. This entertainment contains some [or much] immorality, nudity, profanity, promotion of illicit relationships, violence and constant use of God’s name [“OMG”] blasphemously.
… all of this world’s God-rejection is prompted by the devil to crowd out time to be “alone with God.”
These day-by-day, hour-by-hour, choices corrupt the heart and mind, deadening the person to that which is holy.
Why do people have difficulty getting alone with God daily to read and pray? It is not because we do not have time, training, teaching, etc.,
. . it is totally a matter of what we love and what we fix our eyes upon!
- Colossians 3:2-4 Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory.
– Matthew 5: “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.
Matthew 5:1-11
Seeing the crowds, He [Jesus] went up on the mountain, and when He sat down, His disciples came to Him.
And he opened His mouth and taught them, saying:
“Blessed [Happy] are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
“Blessed [Happy] are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. “Blessed [Happy] are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.
“Blessed [Happy] are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.
“Blessed [Happy] are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy. “Blessed [Happy] are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.
“Blessed [Happy] are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.
“Blessed [Happy] are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
“Blessed [Happy] are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account.
Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
Will you now believe, trust and pursue Jesus Christ in a committed love relationship having surrendered all your heart to Him?
He is no fool who trades that which he cannot keep
for that which he can never lose!
I Surrender All
“Lord Jesus Christ, up until this very moment, all of my life has been completely wrapped up in ‘me’ . . . my wants, my desires, my will, my way, my timing.
I now see that all that produced was sin. I have offended You, Almighty God, and harmed others by my self-centeredness.
I am broken-hearted and devastated by the truth that I have withheld from You what is rightfully Yours, all that I am
and all that You have placed in my hands.
I now understand that everything belongs to You for Your control and not for my control.
I have rebelled against Your will and have chosen to take my own way to my hurt and to the hurt of those around me.
I solemnly choose to let go of everything in my life and give all completely to You, the rightful Sovereign Owner.
My Prayer, expressing my desire to say “Yes” . . to Jesus calling me to Him!
Would You please draw me now to Yourself, forgive me and give me Your life?
Please send the Holy Spirit to give me the promised new birth and seal me as Your very own purchased possession for all eternity.
Please give me Your supernatural joy and peace which You promised and that confirms that You have accepted my plea.
Dear Lord and Savior, I have counted the cost, knowing this requires all of me forever.
I am so very thankful that You are always pleased to receive and accept any and every person that comes to You on these terms of absolute surrender of self.”
We prayed for you as we sent this answer to you.
If the above I Surrender All theme captures the intention of your heart, the Holy Spirit is One who gives such “intentions” to people as He gives birth to the very life and spirit of Christ within them. If this is the full intention of your heart, you have been “born-again”.
It is NOT the words that save anyone but it is ALWAYS the desires of our hearts. If you have the desire to pursue after Jesus, that is a Holy Spirit’s gift of the Spirit of Christ to you to seal you as a child of God. The Holy Spirit now will gladly give you the power to fix your eyes upon Christ while giving you the power to represent Jesus Christ as a light in this God-rejecting world, sin-darkened world.
If this accurately describes what has happened in your own heart, please write back and tell us so.
If you would like us to continue to pray for you, please include that request in your reply.
All our love to All, In Christ –
Jon + Philis + Friends @ WasItForMe.com
The Love of God – https://vimeo.com/user146864084
“I BELIEVE” – https://vimeo.com/943289655
