“Get Your Blinders On” - Ahava Love Letter/Now Think On This (Steve Martin)

                    

                            Now Think On This...

 “Get Your Blinders On”

“Keep your eyes on Jesus, who both began and finished this race we’re in. Study how He did it. Because He never lost sight of where He was headed—that exhilarating finish in and with God—He could put up with anything along the way: Cross, shame, whatever. And now He’s there, in the place of honor, right alongside God.

When you find yourselves flagging in your faith, go over that story again, item by item, that long litany of hostility He plowed through. That will shoot adrenaline into your souls!” 

(Heb. 12:2-3 The Message)

The big game just finished. Not as great as we expected. In fact, it was a letdown for many.

On other past occasions, we have experienced days we so looked forward to, which then came and went. It turned out not being the big deal we had so longed for. We think, oh well, we’ll start looking to the next one, which will be better of course.

We have expectancies. We have fulfillments. We have disappointments. They come and they go. Personally, I get weary of some of them. But then I am reminded of Him.

Back in the day, yes, even before my time, farmers used to plow their fields with the one horse powered implement. Or if they were on the more affordable side of profits, they had even two or three horse power pulling. Literally. Before tractors manufactured by John Deere and Harvester International were invented, horses and mules were it. And these powerful animals wore blinders.  Even today you will see horses with these things on their head called blinders. Why?

In one article, it reads, “Horse blinders are firm leather squares or plastic cups that attach to a horse's bridle or hood and prevent a horse from seeing behind and beside him. Horses that pull wagons and carriages wear blinkers to prevent them from becoming distracted or panicked by what they see behind the wagon.

In fact, horses can see a nearly full circle around themselves except for a small blind spot in front of their noses and behind their tails. Blinders cover the rear and side vision of the horse, forcing him to focus only in a forward direction.

During World War I, horses were essential to transportation of weapons and cavalry units. Horses used during battle often wore blinkers to block out distractions like artillery and approaching armies form their view. (Alie Maheux, Demand Media Animals.pawnation.com )

I like how The Message Bible has written the Hebrews 12:2-3 verses, used as the encouraging word for this message. It says of Yeshua (Jesus), “He never lost sight of where He was headed. He plowed through.” Makes me think He had blinders on, in the spiritual sense of the word.

Having spiritual blinders on can keep us focused on the plan and purpose the Lord has for each. With daily distractions continually coming our way, we can easily lose track of the field’s row in front of us, that we are planting in that which the Lord has placed us in. World news, national news, the local new, which is ever before us, can get us looking away from the Author and the Finisher of our faith. We can get so caught up in the now moment that we get our eyes off THAT which the Lord has asked us to keep our eyes on.

We need to get, and keep, our blinders on.

A little odd looking, but you get the point!

Focusing on the big picture ahead of us can keep our emotional health in better shape than if we don’t. If we allow ourselves to get caught up needlessly in distractions around us, we will become weary, our faith will dwindle, and we simply may miss the mark that we are aiming for, to hit, in the long haul.

In addition to the large worldview perspective the Lord has given us and wants us to maintain, in seeing His Kingdom come on earth as it is in heaven, each of us has at least one specific calling, which we need to know. Having that true sense of purpose, giving us direction to our steps along the way, comes with the help of the Helper, the Holy Spirit (Ruach HaKodesh, Hebrew).

Each of us has a direct call and assignment on our lives which we need to give ourselves to. It may be the teaching gift you have, the administrative work you do, the passion to see the next generation know Him, the Giver of Life, as their own personal Lord and Savior. Whatever it is, our focus must remain steady and enduring, persevering to completion.

For me, my calling is to support and stand with the nation of Israel, and the Jewish people. As a Gentile, I know that is my assignment, and when I get distracted by all that which happens around me, I need to put my own blinders on, and get refocused on the vision I have been given. This, one of His primary heart beats, has become mine also.

Encourage yourself today in the fact that you have been given a specific purpose, needing continual focus and attention. As you maintain vision, you will complete the assignment you have been given. As it has been said, keep the main thing the main thing in your life.

May His Holy Spirit make this even clearer in your walk with Him today. That is His desire.

Steve Martin

Founder

Love For His People. Inc.

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Ahava Love Letter #106   “Get Your Blinders On”   Steve Martin 

Date: In the year of our Lord 2014 (02.03.14) Monday at 7:00 am in Charlotte, NC).

All previous editions of Ahava Love Letter can be found on this Blog, and our newest website: Ahava Love Letters