“Looking unto Jesus” (Hebrews 12:2)  

It’s the Holy Spirit’s job to turn our eyes away from self to Jesus; but Satan tries to do the opposite. He insinuates, “Your sins are too great for pardon; you have no faith; you don’t repent enough; you’ll never be able to continue to the end; you don’t have the joy of the Lord; you have only a tenuous hold of Jesus”. All these are thoughts about self, and we’ll never find comfort or assurance by looking within. 

 The Holy Spirit turns our eyes entirely away from self: He tells us that we’re nothing, but "Christ is all in all." Remember, therefore, it’s not your hold of Christ that saves you – it’s Christ; it’s not your joy in Christ that saves you – it’s Christ; it is not even faith in Christ, though that be the instrument – it’s Christ's blood and merits; therefore, look not so much to your hand with which you grasp Christ, as to Christ; look not to your hope, but to Jesus, the source of your hope; look not to your faith, but to Jesus, the author and finisher of your faith. For more on this subject, click here. 

 We shall never find happiness by looking at our prayers, our doings, or our feelings; it’s what Jesus is, not what we are, that gives rest to the soul. If we would at once overcome Satan and have peace with God, it must be by "looking unto Jesus." Keep your eye simply on Him; let His death, His sufferings, His merits, His glories, His intercession, be fresh upon your mind; when you wake in the morning look to Him; when you lie down at night look to Him. Oh! Don’t let your hopes or fears come between you and Jesus; follow hard after Him, and He’ll never fail you. 

 “My hope is built on nothing less Than Jesu's blood and righteousness: I dare not trust the sweetest frame, But wholly lean on Jesu's name.”