When you’re running, your coach will always tell you eyes up or look forward. Not only is it good form to help with your posture and breathing but it’s also an approach tip, safety tip and mental tip. Looking forward helps you know what’s coming next if the course. Is it a hill? A curve? Seeing the geography helps you adjust your running. You also look forward so you can see what’s in your path. Is there a limb? Mud? Water? Or something worse? Finally, looking forward is a mental tip. If you are looking down, you feel defeated. But keeping your eyes straight and looking forward helps you mentally believe you can finish. You are moving forward.
Solomon gives us the same advice for life. Look directly forward and settle your gaze straight ahead. To run God’s race, we’ve got to look forward.
👟It helps us avoid pitfalls and traps by the Devil.
👟It helps us plan for what’s coming.
👟It helps us have hope that we are truly moving forward.
What is interesting here is how Solomon seeming repeats himself in the sentence. In a quick reading, one might think He has done so purely for emphasis but upon deeper reflection you can see Solomon is actually saying TWO things.
First, look directly forward. Look is more of a quick action. “Hey, come look at this!” Or “Hurry – look!” Or “Look out!” So, here Solomon is telling us first, LOOK OUT! Keep your eyes directly forward. Don’t look behind you or to the left/right because you may lose momentum or worse – fall.
Then, Solomon says gaze straight forward. Gazing is more of a long verb or action. “Let’s go star gazing!” Or “I could gaze at the sky all day long!” So, here Solomon is telling us to gaze forward. Keep our eyes always forward. Don’t make the mistake of losing focus. Gaze forward.
So, look directly forward and gaze at what is before you! #runningtherace
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