Today I read an exposition of Psalm 77, one of those great psalms that begins with a view of life from a discouraging human perspective and moves to an uplifting divine perspective. Asaph opens the poem in mental anguish. We don’t know the situation, but his agony culminates with questioning God’s mercy and grace in verses 8-9. This man only sees his circumstances and is disappointed with God.
A shift occurs in verse 10 and 11, when the psalmist determines to pull his focus from his wretched lot and put his thoughts on his great (v.12-13), powerful (v.14-19), yet tender and gentle (v.20) God.
It’s an amazing transition, and a good lesson about having a correct viewpoint. Asaph’s circumstances did not change in the psalm, but his attitude sure did, because he changed what he was fixed upon.
Have you ever seen a baby with a ceiling fan? Some kids are fascinated by the spinning machines. When their eyes are fixed upon the fan, nothing else exists in their world besides those whirring blades. You can be cooing and waving your arms, even yelling their name, but it makes no difference. The ceiling fan is where it is at for them.
So it is with us believers. Our minds can either be obsessed with our trials, as Asaph’s was in the miserable first half of Psalm 77, or we can fix our eyes on our mighty Jesus, the Author and Finisher of our faith (Hebrews 12:2).
When our heart’s gaze is consumed with the correct Object, and we bring all our difficulties immediately to him to care for as he sees fit, our mental restlessness will disappear, being replaced by the peace that passes all understanding. (Philippians 4:7)
What or Who is your mind fixed on today?
Made for Eternity 