Fixate. It's a fancy word you don't hear much in conversation. According to Merriam-Webster, fixate can mean to focus or concentrate one's gaze or attention intently or obsessively. Do you look at Jesus this way? Are you mesmerized by his wondrous ways? Do you have clear intent in your relationship with Him?
Jesus is not someone who desires an off again on again relationship. He is not intended to be the magic genie in the lamp that we use only in emergencies. As humans, we are created to be relational beings, and no relationship should trump ours with Jesus. It's the most important one to upkeep. There are many instances in the Bible that say God is a jealous God. He is not the type of jealous that stabs you in the back if you do one little thing wrong. One Greek form of the word jealous in the Bible is qana'. It can mean to be zealous for. It's often used in the Old Testament when describing God as a jealous God for his people. Think about that. God, the creator of the universe, is zealous for you! You can be a part of his people because of the work of Jesus on the cross. In a Biblical sense, we fixate on Jesus by pursuing Him only, obsessing about the things of Him, and mimicking His way of operating.
You may be thinking: "Yikes that is a mouthful! How on earth do I reciprocate that intensity for Him? Do I want to?" Well, I'm glad you asked because absolutely you want to. A serious relationship with Him is the most satisfying pursuit of life. Plus, I will tell you more on what fixating on Jesus looks like. I will not leave you in the dark on this. To get an image in our heads of exactly what this kind of pursuit looks like, let's delve into Psalms 63:1-8. It says:
1Â You, God, are my God, earnestly I seek you; I thirst for you, my whole being longs for you, in a dry and parched land where there is no water.
2Â I have seen you in the sanctuary and beheld your power and your glory. 3Â Because your love is better than life, my lips will glorify you. 4Â I will praise you as long as I live, and in your name I will lift up my hands. 5Â I will be fully satisfied as with the richest of foods; with singing lips my mouth will praise you.
6Â On my bed I remember you; I think of you through the watches of the night. 7Â Because you are my help, I sing in the shadow of your wings. 8Â I cling to you; your right hand upholds me.
Take a close look at this Scripture. Look at the various actions in this passage. In it, David seeks, thirsts, longs, sees, beholds, glorifies, praises, lifts, remembers, thinks, and clings to Jesus. That does not sound someone who is just going through the motions with God. This sounds like someone who does not care what other people think of them. David is recorded in the Bible dancing so crazily for God that his clothes fall off. This sounds like someone who is not just sitting back and waiting for God to miraculously swoop in and magically change everything. David by faith trusted in the Lord and slaughtered the giant Goliath who tormented the nation of Israel for over a month. This sounds like someone who is not nonchalant about the things of God. The Bible describes David as someone who was after God's own heart. David here presents to us an image of what being fixated on Jesus looks like. It's an all-out, 110% effort pursuit.
Verse 1 says that "my whole being longs for you, in a dry and parched land where there is no water." What we are looking for in God is not found on earth. 1 John 2: 17 says, "The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever." Material things we own and aspire towards are only trends. They may be cool for a while, but eventually they die out. What God provides for us lasts longer than any worldly thing imaginable.
Verse 5 says that " I will be fully satisfied as with the richest of foods; with singing lips my mouth will praise you." Think about your favorite restaurant for a minute. For me, this is an incredibly difficult decision, but I think I will go with Art and Jakes. It's mainly a Michigan chain but there is one location in Georgia. I have yet to eat one sub-excellent meal there. Chicken tenders, calzones, burgers, you name it; they're beyond incredible tasting. Every time I go there, I walk out feeling bloated. As a young adult pastor once described to me, we call that kind of food sleep food. It's so good, it puts you to sleep. That's what Art and Jakes does to me every time. I can't think of any kind of food for a long time afterwards. David says with God that he would be fully satisfied as with the richest of foods. That's how we should feel with God. Almost identical to what you feel after eating an incredible dish at your favorite restaurant. After you're there, everything else around seems better. You can't think about another food. When you're fixated on God, everything around your life prospers. You can't even think about putting something else above Him. Being fixated on Jesus is living on a spiritual high that nothing else compares to.
Six years ago, I had the opportunity of a lifetime. My summer travel team was going to play a tournament where a lot of college scouts would be present. They played at a lot of prestigious fields but one stood out above them all: The University of Michigan. My team had a chance to play at that field. Personally, I am a die-hard Michigan fan so I was thrilled with the opportunity. There was one complication; my yearly summer youth group camp was happening on the same weekend. In more ways than one, playing with the summer team that weekend would be beneficial. I'd be playing at my favorite college with the possibility to draw scouts' attention. However, I had been to several summer camps before and they were always a blast. After long, complicated hours, I decided to go to summer camp over playing with the team. I do not regret my choice for a minute. That camp was so powerful and showed me what happens when you prioritize God over everything. I had an experience with Him. The joy, peace, and power I felt during that camp is something I will never forget. Not only did I make it onto a college team, my travel team didn't end up playing well enough to play a game at Michigan. I missed out on nothing and am still able to play my favorite sport at the collegiate level.
God makes all things work out for your good. You stay fixated on Him and watch the marvels he can do for you.
Dear Jesus, I thank you for this space to be able to delve into your Word and into you. I pray that you instill in us a fire to know you more. May we turn our eyes and our focus to you. Help us to put you first above everything. Continue to mold us into the person you have called and made us to be. I pray a blessing over everyone who reads this Jesus. Make yourself real to them, just as you have made yourself real to me. I thank you that keep us all safe in your name Jesus I pray, Amen.
For more reading about being fixated on Jesus, read Matthew 14:22-33.