Open the EYES of My Heart Lord, I Want to See You…

I was reading a devotion recently with Lucas (my 10 yr. old grandson) about the EYE (Indescribable - 100 Devotions About God and Science by Loui Giglio). Our eyes are an amazing gift from God.  When a child is in the fifth month of development in the womb, 1 million optic nerve endings begin to stretch out to 1 million nerve endings stretched out from the eye.  All 2 million will eventually match up perfectly.  Wow! What are the odds? Certainly not an accident. What a creator we have in the Lord. It takes more faith to believe in the religion of evolution than creation.  

The More I Study Science the More I Believe in God ...Albert Einstein

I'm reminded of the popular song from some years back ... Open the eyes of my heart, Lord. Open the eyes of my heart I want to see You. Some of you will remember it.  It's a good prayer and a reminder of our need for constant recalibration in an ever-changing world.

In the midst of the daily drama we see in politics, Hollywood and sports, I wonder what the Holy Spirit wants us to SEE?  Distractions are frequent and everywhere in my life, how about yours?

Eyes Are the Windows to The Soul. They Don't Lie. They Show The Truth, No Matter What Face You Put On....Anonymous

Paul writes, "I pray that the EYES OF YOUR HEART may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, and his incomparably great power for us who believe.  Ephesians 1: 18 -19

Do you remember the story in the Old Testament about the King of Aram who sent soldiers to capture the prophet, Elisha?  They surrounded the city where he lived. His servant was terrified when he saw so many soldiers.  Then Elisha said to his servant in 2 Kings 6:16 -17 "Don't be afraid, those who are with US are more than those who are with THEM." And Elisha prayed, "Open HIS EYES, LORD, so that he may see." Then the LORD opened the servant's EYES, and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots OF FIRE all around Elisha."

I'm not sure what challenges you or your family are encountering today.  The challenges may be insignificant or great, but God is greater that your greatest challenge.  Perhaps we should be asking the Lord to open the EYES of our heart that we might walk in faith and not worry or fear; that we might see what HE desires us to see.

"Worry is a Thin Stream of Fear Trickling Through the Mind. If Encouraged, it Cuts a Channel Into Which All Other Thoughts Are Drained."  Arthur Roche

HOW can we open our spiritual EYES? How can we FOCUS with our spiritual eyes more than our natural eyes?  Get into HIS Presence.  A couple of suggestions for getting into HIS Presence.

One, CULTIVATE or practice the PRESENCE of God. We THANK HIM for what He's DONE.  We WORSHIP HIM for who HE IS.  He's the great I AM. He's our HOPE (Jehovah Shammah - the God who is always there). He said He would never leave or forsake us (Matt 28:20). The Holy Spirit is God who is everywhere. He is called our Helper. Talk to Him throughout the day. Treat Him like He's your best friend... He is!

Two, ASK the Holy Spirit to Open the EYES of your heart (spirit man), just as Elisha asked for his servant's eyes to be opened.   What is the Holy Spirit wanting us to hear or see about ourself?  Our family? Our community?  One thing for sure, He's not telling us to walk in worry or fear.  It's a daily choice - Choose to walk in faith, not fear.  HOW? By focusing on HIM, rather than self or circumstances. We're not suggesting denial, but rather choosing on who and what we focus on.  Remember He's with us always!

I read the story of man who was preparing to have open heart surgery many years ago. It looked like he might not make it, so there was great anxiety. The day before the surgery, he was in his room at the hospital. A nurse from surgery came to pay him a visit in preparation for the surgery. She asked him to hold her hand. She said in effect to him. Now tomorrow you will be disconnected from your heart and kept alive only by the virtue of certain machines. When the surgery is complete and they've completed their work on your heart, the machines will stop and all the vessels of your heart will be restored. You will be placed back in a special recovery room. You will be immobile for as long as 6 hours. You may not be able to speak, or even open your eyes, but you will be conscious and will hear everything going on around you. During those hours, I will be at your side and will hold your hand just like I'm doing now. I will stay with you until you are fully recovered: your eyes open and you will be able to speak. Although you may feel absolutely helpless, when you feel my hand, you will know that I will not leave you.  Jesus said the Holy Spirit would come after He left. He would be our helper, our counselor and our comforter.

Open The Eyes of My Heart, Lord