7 Ways to Stay Focused on Jesus
When I was in my early twenties, I heard something from Leonard Ravenhill that marked me deeply. He said,
“The entire Christian life can be summed up with three words from Hebrews chapter 12: ‘Looking unto Jesus…’”
I didn’t fully understand it at the time, but I knew it was true. And now, years later, I’m convinced of it more than ever.
If you’ve walked with God for any length of time, you know how easy it is to get distracted. No one wakes up one morning and suddenly falls away from God. We drift. And drifting almost always begins with a subtle shift of focus away from the person of Jesus.
2 Corinthians 11:3 puts it this way:
“But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve in his craftiness, your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity and the purity that is toward Christ.”
The enemy didn’t tempt Eve with something outrageous. He simply shifted her focus. That same subtle strategy is alive and well today.
Here are 7 practical, biblical strategies to help you guard your heart and keep your eyes fixed on Jesus.
1. Return to the Tree of Life
In Genesis 2, we see two trees: the Tree of Life and the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. Notice—the tree that distracted Eve wasn’t covered in obvious evil. It looked good.
The enemy often distracts believers with good things done in the wrong spirit or at the wrong time. It could be ministry opportunities, responsibilities, or even godly goals that slowly edge Jesus out of the center.
When your thoughts start to drift—even toward something good—pause and remind yourself:
“Nope. Tree of Life. Jesus at the center.”
This simple practice realigns your focus to the Person who is Life Himself.
2. Remember the Futility of the Natural Mind
We can’t stay focused on Jesus by sheer mental effort. The natural mind simply isn’t built to grasp spiritual realities. Scripture is clear:
Romans 8:7 — “The carnal mind is enmity against God…”
1 Corinthians 2:14 — “The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God…”
Proverbs 14:12 — “There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death.”
Isaiah 55:8–9 — “My thoughts are not your thoughts…”
Ephesians 4:17–18 — “They are darkened in their understanding…”
Proverbs 3:5–6 — “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding…”
When your thoughts feel overwhelming or confusing, stop trying to figure everything out on your own. Surrender them to Jesus. Ask the Holy Spirit to renew your mind and anchor your heart.
3. Cast Your Cares on Him
1 Peter 5:7 says:
“Cast all your anxieties on Him, because He cares for you.”
Anxiety is often a flashing indicator that we’ve shifted focus. Casting our cares isn’t passive—it’s a spiritual weapon. It’s how we resist the enemy’s attempt to consume our attention.
And we can cast our cares confidently because God is:
All-powerful
All-good
All-wise
Every care thrown onto Jesus clears space in your heart for worship and trust.
4. Preach the Gospel to Yourself Daily
When we lose sight of the Cross, everything else starts to unravel. Remembering the Gospel isn’t just for new believers—it’s how mature believers stay anchored.
Jesus paid an unreasonable price for us. He died for sinners like us when we were His enemies. We live this life by grace alone, and keeping that reality fresh in our hearts stirs up love, gratitude, and focus.
5. Set Your Mind on Heaven
Heaven is the place where there’s zero distraction from Jesus. That’s our true home.
Colossians 3:2 says,
“Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.”
When we meditate on eternity, we’re not escaping reality—we’re aligning with it. We remember why we’re here and Who we belong to.
Ephesians 2:6 — Seated with Him in heavenly places
Philippians 1:20 — Christ magnified in us
Hebrews 12:22 — A heavenly city
John 17:24 — Jesus’ desire for us to be with Him
A heavenly perspective keeps earthly distractions small.
6. Choose “Mary’s Portion” Over Martha’s Distraction
In Luke 10:38–42, Martha was busy doing things for Jesus, while Mary was sitting with Him.
Jesus said,
“Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”
Serving Jesus is beautiful—but being with Jesus is better. Every day, choose to sit at His feet first. Let your doing flow from your being.
7. Take Communion Regularly
Communion is not just a tradition—it’s a powerful way to recenter your heart. When we remember His body and His blood, everything else fades into its proper place.
Communion pulls your gaze away from self-effort and back to the finished work of the Cross.
Final Encouragement: Fix Your Eyes
At the end of the day, staying focused on Jesus isn’t about striving harder—it’s about gazing longer.
“Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith.” — Hebrews 12:2
When your heart starts to drift, come back to the Tree of Life. Cast your cares. Preach the Gospel to yourself. Set your mind on Heaven. Choose Mary’s portion. Take communion. And most of all—look to Jesus.
He’s not just the source of your faith. He’s the finish line.
