Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Hebrews 12:1-2

At the beginning of 2025, I listened to an 8-part sermon series by Pastor Mike Todd at Transformation Church that completely shifted my mindset. The message was clear: if you let go of distractions and stay focused on God, the things you want in life will start to align. That thought challenged me, inspired me—and honestly, convicted me.

I had a list of things I wanted to accomplish this year. Finishing my book was at the top, but there were other personal goals I had too. I was tired of talking about what I was going to do “one day.” I wanted this to be the year of action. But truthfully, I had things hindering me. I was tangled up—not in scandalous sin—but in what I like to call the almosts and not quites. You know, the moments where you’re close to obedience but not fully surrendered. The kind of sin that looks good on the outside but misses the mark on the inside.

So I made a choice.

I decided to truly fix my eyes on Jesus. That meant cutting out secular music, putting down the fiction books I love to read, and stepping away from social media. I didn’t make these changes to be religious or prove a point—I did it because I needed clarity. I needed to hear from God.

And I did. Loudly. Clearly. Consistently.

It felt like being hit with a firehose of revelation. I couldn’t keep up with what God was pouring in. And then… the attacks came. Spiritual warfare hit hard and heavy. It didn’t make sense at first. But then I realized: you don’t get attacked like that unless you’re close to something.

That’s when I knew. I was on the edge of breakthrough.

But I didn’t run back to comfort, like I normally would. I pressed in. I kept running the race, even when it felt lonely, even when I didn’t see the results right away. I started becoming more than just someone with goals, I became someone who was being transformed.

I’m still in that process. I’m still running. But now I understand the power of focus. The strength that comes from letting go of distractions. The joy that’s on the other side of obedience. I know that sounds corny but hear me out. God wants to help make decisions for so that we can be less stressed because we are trying to figure everything out.

So if you’re reading this and you’ve been feeling stuck, off-track, or overwhelmed, maybe it’s time to throw off a few things. Clear out the noise. Get quiet enough to hear from the One who already mapped out your race.

Fix your eyes on Jesus.
That’s where the freedom is.
That’s where the power is.
That’s where your next chapter begins.

Until next time,

Dominique