I’ve got all these plans piled up sky high
A thousand dreams on hold
And I don’t know why
I got a front row seat
To the longest wait
And I just can’t see
Past the things I pray
Today

But when I fix my eyes on all that You are
Then every doubt I feel deep in my heart
Grows strangely dim
All my worries fade and fall to the ground
‘Cause when I seek Your face and don’t look around
Any place I’m in grows strangely dim

Sometimes where I stand
On this narrow road
Is in a raging storm
Or a valley low
But oh oh oh oh oh oh

But when I fix my eyes on all that You are
Then every doubt I feel deep in my heart
Grows strangely dim
All my worries fade and fall to the ground
‘Cause when I seek Your face and don’t look around
Any place I’m in grows strangely dim

I don’t know, I don’t know
What tomorrow may hold
But I know, but I know
That You’re holding it all
So no matter what may come

I’m gonna fix my eyes on all that You are
Then every doubt I feel deep in my heart
Grows strangely dim
All my worries fade and fall to the ground
I’m gonna seek Your face and not look around
‘Til the  place I’m in grows strangely dim, strangely, strangely dim

Songwriters – Mia Fieldes, Seth Mosely, and Francesca Battistelli
Performed by Francesca Battistelli

* ~ ♥ ~ ✞ ~ ♥ ~ *

I once heard it described to me that what you focus on is what you magnify. Imagine looking through the lens of a camera when you focus on what you are taking a picture of the things around it grow dim. When life’s circumstances are coming at us it is easy to get distracted by what’s coming at us instead of turning our focus to the One Who will bring us through it.

I love these words from this old hymn…
Turn your eyes upon Jesus
Look full in His wonderful face
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim
In the light of His glory and grace

When we choose to turn our focus to Jesus the things of this world—our circumstances, doubts, and worries—grow strangely dim.  When we are fully focused on Him there is fullness of joy!!!

Psalm 16:11 ESV states it beautifully,
You make known to me the path of life;
in Your presence there is fullness of joy;
at Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.

“What’s the secret to joyful heart living and to having fullness of joy?  According to the Scriptures listed above, we obtain fullness of joy from being in the Presence of God.  And we enter into the Presence of God by praising Him.  And when we have joy, then we also have strength.

So, whenever I am feeling less than joyFUL, or am feeling weak or am facing something difficult and need more strength, I stop what I am doing and begin to praise God. Sometimes it may take awhile for me to get my mind to quit thinking about everything else and just focus on HIM, but before long, I can feel His Presence and my joy returns, along with strength.

Isn’t it great to know that we have the power to enter into the Presence of Almighty God whenever we want to?”
(excerpt from JoyfulHeartLiving.com)

* ~ ♥ ~ ✞ ~ ♥ ~ *

Heavenly Father, I thank You that when we turn our focus to ALL that You are the things of this world grow strangely dim.  Thank You for the peace in Your presence.  May we be filled with the fullness of joy that can only come from You…in Jesus’ name!!!  AMEN!!