Portrait Mode
by Cynthia Jennings on October 7, 2020Most cell phones have a portrait mode feature. This feature is designed to make the main subject of a photograph stay in focus while the rest of the background blurs.
What if we had this feature accessible for ourselves? Imagine how laser sharp we would be in keeping focus on what’s important and blurring out those things and thoughts that aren’t so pleasant.
Guess what! We do have that feature accessible to us. Just like on our phones it’s easily and readily available if we know what it takes to access it.
The apostle Paul not only gives us encouragement as to where our attention should be concentrated but also gives instructions on how to access the portrait mode in our daily lives so we are able to remain focused on what lies ahead.
The apostle Paul refers to athletes who run a race, emphasizing the importance of keeping one’s eyes looking forward (portrait mode), not turning to glance at what’s behind them (blurred out). Looking back would slow the runner causing a loss of focus of the path ahead. But when Paul fixes his eyes forward, he isn’t falling down he’s focusing on his goal, “the prize promised by God’s heavenly call in Christ Jesus.”
If we look at the word “forgetting” translated in its original form it doesn’t mean simply a failure to remember-such as you forgot an appointment in a brain fog. It means calculated and purposeful neglect, a realization that you no longer care. This is an intentional abandonment encompassing forgetting things, events, times and places. When viewed from this perspective, it gives the image of forgetting very powerful. As is the case with portrait mode, when this feature is turned on there is a deliberate intent to blur out (to forget about) specific contents of the photograph.
The deliberate forgetting of the past permits the apostle Paul to run unimpeded and with clear focus toward the goal. Forgetting the past does not eliminate the past. But in forgetting it helps us to put our focus (portrait mode) on our growing relationship with God through our faith in Jesus Christ.
Our past has so often kept us bound thus hindering us from focusing on what is really important. And that is God being the author and finisher of our faith. It is our faith in God through Jesus Christ {our accessible portrait mode feature} that will enable us to forget those things from our past.
Starting today will you make the decision to use the portrait mode feature? No longer allow the blurredness hinder or distract you from where God has purposed for you to go.
PEARLStoPONDER: Are you sick and tired of being blurred?
Philippians 3:13b-14—But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
Hebrews 12:2--Looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.
Proverbs 4:25--Let your eyes look directly forward, and your gaze be straight before you.
What if we had this feature accessible for ourselves? Imagine how laser sharp we would be in keeping focus on what’s important and blurring out those things and thoughts that aren’t so pleasant.
Guess what! We do have that feature accessible to us. Just like on our phones it’s easily and readily available if we know what it takes to access it.
The apostle Paul not only gives us encouragement as to where our attention should be concentrated but also gives instructions on how to access the portrait mode in our daily lives so we are able to remain focused on what lies ahead.
The apostle Paul refers to athletes who run a race, emphasizing the importance of keeping one’s eyes looking forward (portrait mode), not turning to glance at what’s behind them (blurred out). Looking back would slow the runner causing a loss of focus of the path ahead. But when Paul fixes his eyes forward, he isn’t falling down he’s focusing on his goal, “the prize promised by God’s heavenly call in Christ Jesus.”
If we look at the word “forgetting” translated in its original form it doesn’t mean simply a failure to remember-such as you forgot an appointment in a brain fog. It means calculated and purposeful neglect, a realization that you no longer care. This is an intentional abandonment encompassing forgetting things, events, times and places. When viewed from this perspective, it gives the image of forgetting very powerful. As is the case with portrait mode, when this feature is turned on there is a deliberate intent to blur out (to forget about) specific contents of the photograph.
The deliberate forgetting of the past permits the apostle Paul to run unimpeded and with clear focus toward the goal. Forgetting the past does not eliminate the past. But in forgetting it helps us to put our focus (portrait mode) on our growing relationship with God through our faith in Jesus Christ.
Our past has so often kept us bound thus hindering us from focusing on what is really important. And that is God being the author and finisher of our faith. It is our faith in God through Jesus Christ {our accessible portrait mode feature} that will enable us to forget those things from our past.
Starting today will you make the decision to use the portrait mode feature? No longer allow the blurredness hinder or distract you from where God has purposed for you to go.
PEARLStoPONDER: Are you sick and tired of being blurred?
Philippians 3:13b-14—But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
Hebrews 12:2--Looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.
Proverbs 4:25--Let your eyes look directly forward, and your gaze be straight before you.
