Spiritual Fixation

"My heart is fixed, O God, my heart is fixed: I will sing and give praise." (Psalm 57: 7 KJV)

"O God, my heart is fixed; I will sing and give praise, even with my glory." (Psalm 108: 1 KJV)

"Fixation" is defined as "persistent concentration" or as an "obsessive preoccupation" or "strong attachment." To be "fixated" upon something is to be wholly focused upon it, to stare with deep contemplation upon an object of wonder and delight. A person's complete attention is drawn to an object, whether real or imagined, because there is some attraction in the object, so that the beholding of it brings delight or pleasure. When men "gaze" from being "awestruck," it is as if there was some irresistable power behind the fixation, "drawing" the attention.

Men stand in wonder and gaze upon their works, the great technological creations, magnificent machines of all kinds, be they from ancient times, such as the pyramids of Egypt, or of modern times, the number of these "wonders" being exceedingly many. By the blessing of God and his grace, men are often stopped in life and made to experience little "epiphanies," wherein they become suddenly overwhelmed in beholding the grandeur and magnificense of the works and providence of God, and when the mind and spirit sense and recognize the awesome presence of God. Truly, as great as are the works of men, the works of Lord God far surpass them.

A truly godly man, a spiritual man, is one who knows God, and is a man who spends much time in mind and spirit beholding the glory and works of the the Lord. Besides being able to behold these works and wonders with physical eyes, he is also able to see them with spiritual eyes, and understand them in their minds; And, such glorious spiritual sights and revelations bring far greater delight and pleasure to the soul than any earthly sight.

In the above Psalm, we have described the mind of a true lover of God. His mind is fixated upon God, and his musings are focused upon the wonder of wonders. The mind of the serious Christian is "fixated" upon the word of God.

"Surely he shall not be moved for ever: the righteous shall be in everlasting remembrance. He shall not be afraid of evil tidings: his heart is fixed, trusting in the LORD. His heart is established, he shall not be afraid, until he see his desire upon his enemies." (Psalm 112: 6-8 KJV)

Notice that a "heart" that is "fixed," or "fixated" upon God and his word, is a heart and mind that "trusts in the Lord." A soul that believes God and his word, that has "faith in God," and that is wholly focused upon obeying the Lord, is a heart that feels safe, that is assured, that is free of fretting and worrying. The heart of such an one is "established," that is, it is "firmly set," having a solid foundation in God and his truth. The result of such a fixation of heart is to have one's desires realized over our enemies, particularly the enemy of sin, Satan, the world, and death itself.

"And the LORD said unto Moses, Go down, charge the people, lest they break through unto the LORD to gaze, and many of them perish." (Exodus 19: 21 KJV)

When Lord God descended upon the Mountain of Sinai, it was a fearful and awesome sight! God in glorious splendour and awesome majesty descended upon them in a fire and black smoke and in thick darkness. There were horrific sights and mysterious sounds, and the air was thick with a magical mist. Firey darts came forth from that burning mountain and struck many dead who approached too closely and in their attempts to "gaze." But, God could not be approached, at least not through the law, and on the basis of man's obedience to it.

"Who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto; whom no man hath seen, nor can see: to whom be honour and power everlasting. Amen." (I Timothy 6: 16 KJV)

Sinners may approach the awesome God of Mt. Sinai through Jesus Christ, the one who has removed the stumblingblock in the way of approaching most holy God.

"Turn away mine eyes from beholding vanity..." (Psalm 119: 37 KJV)

"Wilt thou set thine eyes upon that which is not? for riches certainly make themselves wings; they fly away as an eagle toward heaven." (Proverbs 23: 5 KJV)

"I will set no wicked thing before mine eyes: I hate the work of them that turn aside; it shall not cleave to me." (Psalm 101: 3 KJV)

The sin of man is most visible in taking note of what he most spends his mental time "beholding." Men daily carry delightful images in their minds, some are good, and some are evil. Some of these images please and delight the heavenly mind and spirit, while others only delight the sinful flesh. A man who spends his time beholding carnal and sinful things, and refuses to behold heavenly things, yea, God himself, is a man who is blind and foolish. Sinners focus on the illusory beauties of sin, rather than the supernal beauties of God and his works and ways.

"Hell and destruction are never full; so the eyes of man are never satisfied." (Proverbs 27: 20 KJV)

The sinful flesh cannot be satisfied. Sin may seem to quench a sinful thirst and desire, but it will only increase spiritual dearth. Only the things of God and righteousness will satisfy the soul and delight the mind.

"Let favour be shewed to the wicked, yet will he not learn righteousness: in the land of uprightness will he deal unjustly, and will not behold the majesty of the LORD." (Isaiah 26: 10 KJV)

No, he would rather focus upon things that delight his "evil eye," and that bring pleasure to his sinful mind. He would rather spend time beholding the beauties of earth than the beauties of heaven. But, if one could just get a "glimpse" of the "glory" and "beauty" and "majesty" of the Lord, then he would truly be transformed!

"And you, son of man, on the day I take away their stronghold, their joy and glory, the delight of their eyes, their heart's desire, and their sons and daughters as well..." (Ezekiel 24: 24 NIV)

These carnal and evil things that men are now permitted to "behold" and "fixate upon," will one day be taken from them. In Hell there will be nothing to delight the eyes, either of the body or mind.

"One thing have I desired of the LORD, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold (gaze NIV) the beauty of the LORD, and to enquire in his temple." (Psalm 27: 4 KJV)

To "gaze" upon the Lord as we see him by faith! To see him in our "mind's eye" as we read the bible by the Holy Spirit. What a "view" of things he is able to give to the enlightened mind! Oh the "beatific vision"!

"Unto whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto us they did minister the things, which are now reported unto you by them that have preached the gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven; which things the angels desire to look into." (I Peter 1: 12 KJV)

The Greek for "look into" denotes a "close inspection" as one who do who stoops over to get a closer look. It is an intense and focused look. What glorious things are in the gospel! In Jesus Christ! So glorious that heaven's angels "stoop down to look closely at" these things! If they, ought we not?

"Mine eyes are ever toward the LORD; for he shall pluck my feet out of the net." (Psalm 25: 15 KJV)

"Come, behold the works of the LORD, what desolations he hath made in the earth." (Psalm 46: 8 KJV)

"This is the LORD's doing; it is marvellous in our eyes." (Psalm 118: 23 KJV)

You are invited to look and behold! If you cannot, then ask the Lord to open your eyes, to give you the ability to see these glorious things!

"Open thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law." (Psalm 119: 18 KJV)

If you do not see God's wonders, in the bible, in the book of nature, in the workings of history and providence, then surely you are blind. You need to ask the Lord to open your eyes. You will truly see "wonderful" and "spectacular" things, too glorious to put into words! Better felt than said!

"And it came to pass, when the time was come that he should be received up, he stedfastly set his face to go to Jerusalem." (Luke 9: 51 KJV)

"Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God." (Hebrew 12: 2 KJV)

This is also part of what it means to have one's heart "fixed upon" the Lord. It is to not only behold all that is beautiful and glorious about God, but it is also to have a heart and mind that is determined to "stay focused" upon holy and godly things, and not to turn attention away to lessor things.

"My son, give me thine heart, and let thine eyes observe my ways." (Proverbs 23: 26 KJV)

First, give your heart, mind, and soul to the Lord. Petition him in faith to open your eyes to see what others see. Focus your attention upon God and upon his word. Pray for his Spirit to guide you. Ask him to cleanse your mind of evil images and to replace them with heavenly and holy ones.

"As for me, I will behold thy face in righteousness: I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with thy likeness." (Psalm 17: 15 KJV)

Having thus given yourself to the Lord, and having had him open your eyes, then know that he will continue to open them even further, as you draw near to the Lord and seek his face; And, when Christ returns, and you are glorified and made an immortal son of God, you will then behold God in person, in all his glory and majestic splendour.