Jesus never denied the facts. He looked beyond them to the truth, to the realities of Heaven.

Sometimes we think that faith and hope mean closing our eyes to things happening around us.

But faith and hope don’t blindly walk through life. Faith and hope acknowledge situations and bring the greater reality of the Kingdom into view!

Faith and hope focus on the person: Jesus. On His resurrection power. On His faithful witness. On the promises of God, His father and ours, that are the much greater reality than anything we see or experience here on earth.

These next 2 1/2 weeks, as we continue our Daniel Fast, we encourage you to focus on the greater reality. Focus your heart, your mind, your will and emotions on Jesus. On who He is and what He’s said. Put your faith and hope in the One who is Faith and Hope.

Keep your eyes fixed on Jesus – the author and perfecter of your faith – and just see what happens!

We look away from the natural realm and we fasten our gaze onto Jesuswho birthed faith within us and who leads us forward into faith’s perfection. from Hebrews 12:2 TPT

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the Champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting Him, He endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now He is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne. Hebrews 12:1-2 NLT