Eyes on Jesus

Reflections on the Journey:

Eyes on Jesus.

This word has been a huge part of my daily walk since the day the Lord said this to me. 

Day 1 in the hospital, one of my spiritual leaders sent me this:

“Krystal- REMEMBER. 

Remember how the Father answers you speedily.

Remember how He’s delivering you and your family from the enemy. 

Let the Word of God arise in you in EVERY situation. Don’t be blindsided! 

REMEMBER PSALM 112! Especially verse 7″

Oh, how I needed that reminder! In that moment I stopped and read Psalm 112:7

Psalm 112:7 AMPC

He shall not be afraid of evil tidings; his heart is firmly fixed, trusting (leaning on and being confident) in the Lord.” 

That encouragement for the journey came to me right on time. The diagnosis alone would cause worry, fear, anxiety, doubt… it all would overtake me.

I was told so much in less than 24 hours:

• Diagnosis- Leukemia
• Need to start treatment immediately 
• 8 kinds of chemotherapy
• Need to run extensive tests to see how far the disease has spread 
• 2 surgical procedures immediately 
• Cannot leave the hospital without treatreatment

At that point, panic and impulse decision making would take over as the days went on- especially while in hospital. I could have checked out and just been in shock because all he had was joint pain… it didn’t make sense. My faith could have decreased. I was still processing through questions and many thoughts that had arisen in my mind, but the His Word put my eyes back on Him.

Day 5 in hospital I heard this:

“Eyes on Jesus.” 

I heard it clearly. I began studying and praying on this so I could truly grabs what the Lord wanted me to receive. So what does this mean? 

There are 2 areas in the Word that eyes on Jesus stands out to me.

First–
In Matthew 14:22-33, we read what happens when our eyes are on Jesus, and what happens when we take our eyes off Jesus. 

There’s two effects:

• • When there’s a storm all around us, if we take our eyes off of Jesus and we put them on the situation and circumstance, like Peter- we begin to sink. We don’t know what to do. Fear relplaced faith.
• • Doubt comes and faith decreases when we take our eyes off Jesus. This allows our own thoughts to fill our minds as we look around us and see what’s going on. It also gives the enemy access to us. 

For me, eyes on Jesus has meant just that. I could not and cannot take my eyes off of Him and look at the situation and circumstances.

Second–

2 Chronicles 20:12, 17

¹² “O our God, will you not execute judgment on them? 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.”…. ¹⁷ “You will not need to fight in this battle. Stand firm, hold your position, and see the salvation of the Lord on your behalf, O Judah and Jerusalem.’ Do not be afraid and do not be dismayed. Tomorrow go out against them, and the Lord will be with you.”

Please read 2 Chronicles 20!! Three different armies came against King Jehoshaphat and Judah!! They were surrounded and did not know what to do. So what did the King do? He humbled himself and prayed. Then this happened:

2 Chronicles 20:15-17

¹⁵ And he said, “Listen, all Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem and King Jehoshaphat: Thus says the Lord to you, ‘Do not be afraid and do not be dismayed at this great horde, for the battle is not yours but God’s. ¹⁶ Tomorrow go down against them. Behold, they will come up by the ascent of Ziz. You will find them at the end of the valley, east of the wilderness of Jeruel. ¹⁷ You will not need to fight in this battle. Stand firm, hold your position, and see the salvation of the Lord on your behalf, O Judah and Jerusalem.’ Do not be afraid and do not be dismayed. Tomorrow go out against them, and the Lord will be with you.”

There were times in the hospital I knew I needed to be with Jesus. I felt me getting overwhelmed or tired. There were a couple times my spiritual leaders told me I needed to get time by myself and pray. I needed to hear from Holy Spirit- I needed guidance, help, understanding, and wisdom. Jesus promised us the Helper, so I pull on and rely on the Helper. My relationship with Him was and is just that real to me. Praying in the spirit gives spiritual strength. Peace, direction, and clarity came every time I separated myself to be with Him. I, in turn, did not make a decision without talking to Him first. 

This was me keeping my eyes on Jesus.

Many times (in the hospital and out) I’d sit and thoughts or words would come to mind that were opposite of what we are believing for. Hordes of thoughts, if you will.

At those times, I had a choice: 

• Stay there and wallow in overwhelming fear and despair
• Fill my spirit up with His Word and keep eyes on Him

This is what the Word of God says: 

John 6:63-64a

”It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh is no help at all. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life. But there are some of you who do not believe.”…

Why don’t we ask the Creator of all things what to do? Do we believe He is who He says He is?

There is no one else… No one…. that has spirit and life in their words. Doctors, nurses, family, friends… no one. 

Well… Are we talking to Him as if the words that He speaks give us direction, clarity, purpose, truth, life, and spirit? It does all of that.

Look at these two promises:

John 14:26-27

²⁶“But the Helper (Comforter, Advocate, Intercessor—Counselor, Strengthener, Standby), the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name [in My place, to represent Me and act on My behalf], He will teach you all things. And He will help you remember everything that I have told you. ²⁷ Peace I leave with you; My [perfect] peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be afraid. [Let My perfect peace calm you in every circumstance and give you courage and strength for every challenge.]”

• The Father sent us the Holy Spirit

• Jesus gives us peace

There was a point in the hospital when the doctors didn’t know what to do or what was wrong when Kayden had repeated seizures, and they said so.

***Side note** When doctors say they don’t know what’s wrong… true realization that Abba is needed happens at another level.

The only one who can heal is Abba. So I stopped after they said that to me and asked Him in that moment to highlight to the doctors what was going on and what to do for His son. I had to.

“Father, we don’t know what to do, but my eyes are on You. Show them Father, and heal your son.”

Now, fast forward to this week:

Kayden was a bit uneasy for the Lumbar Puncture procedure. He’s had them many times, but he’s at the point of being tired of procedures and travel and treatment again- and I don’t blame him. 

I encouraged him and prayed with him before going in to procedure, ordered his favorite food from Wingstop while in there (that made him smile), and I reminded him before he went to sleep by anesthesia – Faith over fear. 

Before he went to sleep, I started looking around the room at the doctors and nurses, and while praying, I thanked the Lord for being with him through this just like He’s done every time before when I leave the procedure room. At that time, I was feeling how it never gets easier seeing him go through this, and I almost went to sadness.

Then, I looked up and I saw an angel standing in the corner! It took everything in me, not to just bust out crying. So much peace hit me in that moment. I got to see an angel, and he’s covering Kayden! 

This is why I keep my eyes on Jesus!

When I prayed with him before procedure, I prayed Psalm 91.

Look at these promises:

Psalm 91:9-12

Because you have made the Lord your dwelling place the Most High, who is my refuge, no evil shall be allowed to befall you, no plague come near your tent. For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways. On their hands they will bear you up, lest you strike your foot against a stone.

I prayed His Word and I stood on it. Peace and joy. That’s all I was feeling after that. An angel in the room is so much better than me in the room! Kayden is well. Kayden has life by the Spirit. Kayden is healed, in remission, and will stay in remission in Jesus Name!

No matter how tough it gets on this journey, whatever challenges arise, the financial situations, the tears that may come… my eyes will stay on Jesus, and I’m teaching Kayden to do the same.

Are we reading His Word knowing that it literally gives life to your flesh and your spirit? Are you waiting for a response or moving without Him?

This is eyes on Jesus.

I pray our faith in Christ increases and our reliance on self and others decreases. He is God Almighty, and He is able! Stop, hear His voice, and trust Him.

I added a video message at the bottom of this article. Be encouraged!!

 Lesson in the Journey:

“When I don’t know what to do, my eyes are on You.” My walk with the Lord is not perfect. I want to continue to grow in love, understanding, wisdom, discernment, and grace with Him. He is using this journey to grow my faith and teach me to rely on Him, live on His Word and trust and believe it. So, with endurance and persistence, I keep my eyes on Jesus. 

Promises for the Journey:

Hebrews 12:1-2 AMP

”Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses [who by faith have testified to the truth of God’s absolute faithfulness], stripping off every unnecessary weight and the sin which so easily and cleverly entangles us, let us run with endurance and active persistence the race that is set before us, [looking away from all that will distract us and] focusing our eyes on Jesus, who is the Author and Perfecter of faith [the first incentive for our belief and the One who brings our faith to maturity], who for the joy [of accomplishing the goal] set before Him endured the cross, disregarding the shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God [revealing His deity, His authority, and the completion of His work].“

John 6:63-64a

”It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh is no help at all. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life. But there are some of you who do not believe.”…

2 Chronicles 20:12

¹² “O our God, will you not execute judgment on them? 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.”