A Fixed Gaze

I was in Kohl’s the other day when I saw a mom with her three or four year old daughter, over in the toy section. Something caught the little girl's attention. She was so captivated by it that she pulled on her mom’s arm to get her attention.
“Mommy, I see a...” she expressed with tenacity.
Then this woman gently spoke of something in another section of the store that she wanted to take her daughter over to see. In an instant, that little girl's total attention switched from one object to another. Completely.

I wonder sometimes if that is how we are as children of God. The initial object that catches our complete gaze is God. We see so much when we first come into relationship with Him. We see His love, His grace, His mercy, His salvation, and His power and strength. We also see our need, our sin, our shame, our incompleteness, and our deep longing. We “want” Him.
But just like the dogs in the movie “UP”, it is as if someone whispers SQUIRREL and our gaze shifts. Distraction has been placed before us and our flesh responds with lightening speed. Suddenly we can’t even remember what held our attention before. We are on to the next object of our attention.
I can’t help but wonder how many times my gaze has shifted that fast - away from the face of the one I hold as most dear, to the possibility of something else. I have done this with my God, my husband, my children, and my dear friends. I have also done this with the calling He has placed before me at times.
Thankfully, there seems to be a way for my gaze to be more constant. As God has drawn me closer to Himself, less and less seems to distract me. It is as if I am so close to Him that any additional stimuli are hedged out. Oh, how I desire to focus on the one I love, to the exclusion of all else.
As we are beginning this new year, I am praying for myself and my family - that we may draw close and not be led away.

How do you keep your gaze fixed upon God?

~Wendy