Eyes on the Prize!

Keep your eye on the ball!
Eyes on the prize!
I’ve got my eye on you! 
When something or someone is of utmost importance, our number one focus, we often use phrases like these. When our eyes are locked in, utterly transfixed on one thing, all else fades into the background and diminishes in our attention. 

King Jehoshaphat understood this. He may have had an unfortunate name (seriously, did his closest friends call him JPhat? Just J?), but his story in 2 Chronicles 20 is powerful in its application.  Jehoshaphat was the fourth ruler of Judah and is recognized for His faithfulness to God.

2 Chronicles 17:3 “The Lord was with Jehoshaphat, because he walked in the earlier ways of his father David. He…sought the God of his father and walked in his commandments, and not according to the practices of Israel. Therefore, the Lord established the kingdom in his hand.” 

The scene in chapter 20 opens with the armies of three strong kingdoms heading straight towards Judah. In other words, Jehoshaphat could have understandably been in full on panic mode! But his response was to call his kingdom to fasting and prayer. Verse 3 tells us he “set his face to seek the Lord. He then assembled all of Judah to do the same.” (Imagine an entire people coming together earnestly seeking the Lord!) And when they were gathered, Jehoshaphat prayed a beautiful prayer. You can read the entire text here, but his prayer began by acknowledging God’s matchless power. He continued by recalling God’s past protection of His people, His ability to protect them in that moment, and admitting they were facing an army that could utterly destroy them. And then King Jehoshaphat concluded his prayer with stunning words of complete trust and surrender… 2 Chronicles 20:12: “For we are powerless against this great horde that is coming against us. We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you.”  

I’ve never been the target of a massive enemy army but have been in many circumstances where I have felt completely powerless, without any hope, totally surrounded with no way out. I am sure you have been as well. Perhaps you are there now.  

I was challenged by Jehoshaphat’s response. He kept his eye on the ball. His eyes were wholly transfixed on God in the midst of a terrifying situation. He had no idea when he prayed that prayer whether his people would be slaughtered or divinely delivered. But whatever the outcome, he knew that the highest prize was his all-powerful, sovereign God, and that is where he set his eyes.  

Author Tony Reinke has said, “What our eyes linger on, our hearts will learn to love. What our hearts love, our eyes will linger on. When Christ becomes our highest prize, He becomes our supreme focus.” 

Oh God, in every moment and circumstance may You be my supreme focus, my highest prize. May my eyes always be on You!