October 1, 2026
Opening Prayer
Jesus, slow us down as we come to your Word. Help us turn our attention toward you. Give us ears to hear and hearts ready to trust. Amen.
Bible Reading
Hebrews 12:1–2
“…let us throw off everything that hinders… and let us run with perseverance… fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith.”
Reflection
We have spent two weeks talking about trust, courage, detours, valleys, wisdom, and taking the next step. All of that is certainly important. But today Hebrews 12 brings us back to the center:
Keep your eyes on Jesus!!
It’s easy to get caught up in trying to figure out God’s will:
What should I do?
Which direction is right?
Is this the door God opened?
What’s the plan for my future?
Those are honest questions. However, I believe there is a more profound one:
How can I faithfully follow Jesus today? This question simplifies everything. The Christian life isn’t about discovering the perfect plan. It’s about following a person. JESUS.
When we walk with someone we trust along an unfamiliar path we do not need to know every turn. We just stay close to our guide. If they turn, we turn. If they stop, we stop. If the path gets hard, we keep going because we are not alone. This is the idea that the Bible suggests as the path of discipleship. Passage after passage places the emphasis on the fact that Jesus Is Our Direction, and our daily prayer should be “Jesus, help me follow you today.”
Now, there are plenty of things that distract us:
Fear. Regret. Comparison. Success. Failure. Expectations. Our own plans. Even our desire to know God’s will can distract us from Jesus himself.
If Christianity were about perfect decision‑making, I believe we would be crushed by pressure.
But our hope isn’t in our ability to navigate life. Our hope is Jesus.
Jesus is the author and perfecter of our faith. He ran the race for us. He endured the cross. He gave himself for our sin.
So we keep running. We keep trusting. We keep taking the next step. And above all:
We keep our eyes on Jesus.
Prayer
Jesus, our deepest need is to keep our eyes on you. When we’re confused, help us follow. When we’re afraid, help us trust. When the road shifts, keep us close. When we fail, remind us of grace. When things get hard, give us perseverance. And when we don’t know what to do next, help us ask: “Jesus, how can I follow you faithfully here?” Amen.
