Eyes on Jesus: Finding Freedom by Looking Away from Sin
“If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.” — Colossians 3:1–2 (ESV)
Have you ever noticed that the harder you try not to think about something, the more it takes over your mind? Temptation works the same way. When we're pulled toward a sin, our instinct is to fight it head-on — to stare it down, white-knuckle our resistance, and keep telling ourselves no. But all that staring keeps the temptation right in front of us, and the more we fixate on it, the stronger its pull grows. Eventually, most give in.
The better way isn't more willpower — it's a different direction for our eyes. The instant temptation hits, we stop staring at it and turn immediately to Jesus. Not fighting the sin in our own strength, but setting our minds on things above, where Christ is. The way out isn't to look harder at what we're fleeing; it's to look up — first and fast.
Whatever your pull is — lust, a drink, a substance, or a toxic person you keep circling back to — the moment it lands, every second you spend staring it down only drives the hook deeper. But the instant you turn your eyes to Christ, its grip begins to weaken.
Think of driving down a road. Fix your gaze on the right shoulder, and your car drifts that way — it's called target fixation. You steer toward whatever you stare at. Keep your eyes on the road, and you stay in your lane. Temptation is no different. The more we fixate on the sin we're fighting, the more we drift toward it. But when we fix our eyes on Christ, we move toward Him — and away from the pull.
Every temptation has a similar pattern. A mind set on the flesh keeps circling what it craves; a mind set on the Spirit finds life and peace (Romans 8:6). And it's not only peace we find there — it's power. On our own, willpower runs out; but the Spirit who lives in us supplies a strength to turn away that we could never manufacture ourselves (Galatians 5:16). So when the pull comes, don't negotiate with it or try to muscle through it — turn, right away, to Christ. Crowd out the temptation with Him: His presence, His promises, His worth. And when you do slip — because sometimes we will — the same rule holds. Don't sink into staring at the failure and beating yourself up; that only locks your eyes back on the sin. We don't have to atone for what Christ has already paid for. Grieve it, receive His grace, and look up again.
The fight for freedom isn't won by staring down the darkness but by turning toward the Light. So stop staring at the sin that's pulling at you. Fix your eyes on Jesus — and watch its grip loosen as you move toward Him.
Big Idea
You don't escape temptation by staring it down — that only tightens its grip. The instant it hits, turn to Christ and set your mind on things above, and the pull weakens as you move toward Him.
Questions to Ponder
Name the temptation that has the strongest grip on you right now — the pull you keep circling back to. When it hits, what's your instinctive reaction: do you fight it head-on? Do you feed it? Do you eventually give in to it? Or do you turn it over to Christ? Now look underneath it with two questions: (1) what's driving this temptation? What's stirring in your heart to fuel it? And (2) what is the temptation really promising you — comfort, escape, control, worth, or relief from a wound? Naming what it's offering and where that ache actually comes from is often the first crack in its power.
Application
With your journal in hand, build your escape route now, before the next pull comes — because in the moment you won't have time to figure it out. Take the temptation you named and, at the top of the page, write the fastest prayer you can pray when it hits: something as simple as “Jesus, I turn to You.” Below it, list what's “above” to fix your eyes on — who Christ is, what He has promised, and why He is worth more than what's enticing you — plus a few redirects you can reach for in seconds: a verse to pray, a person to text, a room to leave, or worship to put on. This is the drill: the instant the pull lands, don't negotiate or analyze — pray the prayer, reach for a redirect, and turn your eyes to Him. Practice it until turning becomes your reflex. And if you slip, don't spiral — the price is already paid. Grieve it, receive grace, and look up again.
Before the Lord — a daily devotional by Blake S. Crawford. Read more and subscribe free at blakescrawford.com/before-the-lord.