In your Christian walk, it's important that you look "away" from every distraction unto the Master. I like the way the Amplified version puts it; it says, "Looking away \[from all that will distract\] to Jesus...." What God is telling you here is simple: Turn away from everything else, and fix your gaze on Jesus. Don't get distracted.

 

Imagine the case of Peter on the sea with the Master; if he had kept his gaze on the Master, he wouldn't have been overwhelmed by the billowing waves and tempest. He was distracted, and then he began to sink. The same thing happens to many today; when they allow themselves to be overwhelmed by the "magnitude" of their problems, instead of focussing on the Word of God, they sink even further. Refuse to be overwhelmed by any problem.

 

There's no situation you can't handle successfully with the Word of God. Make the Word of God your stay; live in the Word! Learn from Jesus; He lived the Word, though He's the Word! He was focused, and was never distracted from the Word. He looked at the result of His faith; for the joy that was set before Him, He endured the cross, despising the shame. He didn't care what people thought about Him; His focus was to carry out the will of the Father. It should be the same with you.

 

They may call you names, because of your devotion and dedication to the Lord, but don't let that affect you. If anything, be inspired to love Him more; be challenged to serve Him even more passionately. Don't be moved by hard times and turbulent circumstances; hold on tight, with your focus on Jesus.

 

1 Timothy 6:12 says, "Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses." Stay in the Word, and don't turn away from it; and the Lord will keep you in the peace of prosperity: "Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee" (Isaiah 26:3).