Keep Your Eye on the Ball?
How do pro basketball players, soccer players, or golfers become very consistent in making shots? Research on “gaze tracking” has proven if an athlete focuses on where he or she wants to put the ball, rather than the ball, odds of success are much higher.
I heard about this research while watching some kind of documentary a few years ago around the time of the Olympics. I tried it out for myself playing Corn-Hole? For those of you who have no idea what this is, it is basically a grown up version of bean bag toss. It actually does work! I beat my husband fairly regularly :).
Ok, so how does all this relate to scripture? When I read Psalm 73, I find Asaph (the writer) focusing on the “ball” of his problems rather than God.
Asaph was the temple worship leader during King David and King Solomon’s time. So he actually saw the best and worst side of government and religious officials. And, as worship leader, he was likely not making a lot of money for himself.
Psalm 73 begins with Asaph focusing on the lifestyle of the unrighteous people he saw all around him. He even says in verse 3, “For I was envious of the arrogant as I saw the prosperity of the wicked.”
His focus was on unrighteous people, not on His rightous God. He began to even question why he was living an obedient life when the wicked were seemingly doing so well.
Now, let’s be honest…we have all felt that way at times. I mean, come on, it seems like the meanest, most immoral people on earth have it made! In our mind, we are screaming, “IT IS NOT FAIR!” When our focus drifts to the unrighteous, we begin to question God’s equity toward us.
Then Asaph’s pity party starts around verse 13-14: “Surely in vain I have kept my heart pure and washed my hands in innocence; For I have been stricken all day long and chastened every morning.” Can you just hear him? Gloom, despair and agony on me! Now his focus is on himself instead of his God.
When our focus is on our problems and our less-than-perfect circumstances, we suddenly become a victim. We choose to wallow in self pity instead of living in the victory that Jesus came to give us…John 10:10 “I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.”
Asaph resets his focus by going to church…
When Asaph began focusing on God, his desires changed. No longer was he envious of the prospering wicked. In verse 25, Asaph says, “Whom have I in heaven but you? And besides You, I desire nothing on earth.”
So my friends, don’t focus on the “ball”. It is too short sided and you will miss your target. Set your gaze a bit higher, a bit farther down the road toward God’s eternal purpose.
Glancing away from our God-target will mess us up everytime! <TWEET this
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.