Have you ever googled “How to get a hummingbird out of your house”? I have, but not until after the fact. 🙂

A couple weeks ago, my parents had the sliding glass door to their deck open in order to air out the house. They feed hummingbirds on the deck, and one little guy zipped through the door. (Okay, I don’t know for sure it was a male, but I’ve read that male hummingbirds are more aggressive around feeders, while the females tend to exhibit aggressive behavior around their nests. And this one is notorious for chasing everybody else away from the feeder. ) 🙂

Anyway, Mr. Zippy flew around the living room, trying to find a way out. My parents opened all the doors and tried to shoo him in the right direction. He hovered above the doors, but wouldn’t fly out.

Finally my mom called my brother, who suggested hanging the hummingbird feeder in the doorway. Sure enough, Mr. Zippy zeroed in on the feeder and was out the door in seconds.

He just needed something to fix his eyes on to guide him to freedom.

It’s the same with us. The world can be a very confusing, chaotic place. Sights and sounds bombard us at every turn. The nightly news blares doom and gloom into our lives. Social media blasts yet another cacophony of discord into our hearts. The people in our lives may give well-meaning, yet conflicting advice.

It’s all so overwhelming we dart and zip through our lives in utter confusion, always seeking yet never finding true peace.

I’m not speaking of the peace of salvation. It’s completely possible to be a Christian, knowing your eternal destiny is safe in the hands of God, and yet live in worry and fear.

This is the peace I’m speaking of—the everyday, in-this-moment peace we need in order to live with joy.

To succeed in finding this peace, we have to keep our eyes fixed on Jesus.

That’s really great, Kim, you might be thinking. But the last thing I need is another Christian cliche.

And you’re right.

In practical terms, how do we keep our eyes fixed on Jesus? How do we keep the noise of the world from overwhelming us and instead focus on Him?

First, by spending time in His Word every single day.

In your hands, you hold the very words of Jesus. When you read the Bible and meditate upon it, life-giving power and wisdom are yours for the taking. Not only will you find instruction on how to live your life, you will also find the strength to live it.

Second, by seeking the Lord in prayer.

We read in Hebrews 4:16, “Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.” Like a father who waits patiently for his child to ask for help, God stands ready to help us in our times of need.

Third, by surrounding ourselves with physical reminders of spiritual truth.

Though we are spiritual beings, we live in physical bodies—we see, hear, feel, taste, and touch. Using a physical thing can drive home the truth of a spiritual message. During a very painful time in my life, I wore a bright blue bracelet to remind me to keep believing in the goodness of God. Posting verses around your home and work space helps keep the Word of God fresh in your mind. Songs of praise can encourage you to keep your thoughts on Christ. There are many ways to use physical things to help you dwell on Christ—find what works best for you and use it.

My friend, the world can be a crazy place. It’s easy to get sucked into the whirlpool of confusion and noise.

But Jesus is here, waiting to give us the peace we long for.

It’s time to fix our eyes upon Him.

“Turn your eyes upon Jesus”

By Hellen Howarth Lemmel

O soul, are you weary and troubled?

No light in the darkness you see?

There’s light for a look at the Savior,

And life more abundant and free.

Chorus:

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.

Through death into life everlasting

He passed, and we follow Him there;

O’er us sin no more hath dominion

For more than conqu’rors we are!

His Word shall not fail you, He promised;

Believe Him and all will be well;

Then go to a world that is dying,

His perfect salvation to tell!

Chorus:

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.

“Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.” (Hebrews 12:2)

For ordering information for my devotional book, Tales from Toddlers, click HERE.