“Open my eyes that I may see wonderful things from your law.” Psalm 119:18 NKJV
Open my eyes, Lord! It’s a prayer I pray often when it’s hard to find my way through life. I stumble in the darkness, weary, distracted, distressed — half-seeing, hardly believing—not fully living the life God has called me to. But then I remember — God has called us to LIFE! An abundant life filled with joy and peace and hope.
Have you ever felt that way? Have you ever felt like you were faltering in the darkness, your faith wavering, your hope slipping—when the kids get sick, or finances are tight, or your job seems uncertain? Vision for your future went out the window as you struggle through the muck and mire of the here and now.
Open my eyes, Lord!
Vision loss is not a modern-day problem. Paul’s letter to the Ephesian believers was his attempt to lift their heads, encourage their hearts and help them see life through spiritual eyes.
His prayer for the believers was that their eyes of the heart be opened. He wanted them to grasp the hope we have in God and to understand the power we have access to as believers. He told them he prayed for them often, that they would have a revelation of who Jesus is:
“… the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe…” Ephesians 1:28-19
Hearts enlightened, eyes wide open—to know the hope we have in Christ, the glory as his people, and the exceeding greatness of his power. This is the very same power that raised Christ from the dead!
No matter what challenge we face—no matter what weariness, busyness, distraction, and even suffering we may encounter—God’s power helps us overcome. His power in our lives helps us live joyously through whatever comes our way.
Imagine that! Resurrection power extended to us, to come out of the darkness and into this life. Can you see it? Or have the cares and concerns of this life closed your eyes to this truth?
Open my eyes that I may see!
Sometimes it’s hard to see when we’re in the down and dirty of life. Sometimes we’re too close to a problem to see what God sees. That’s when it’s time to regain a heavenly perspective on life. Paul’s encouragement to the Ephesian believers helped them gain vision—and an understanding of their positioning in the Lord:
“But God… raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus…” Ephesians 2:4, 6
We are seated with Christ in heavenly places. God has given us a bird’s-eye view of life, a spiritual perspective that allows us to see life as He sees it. As God’s children, we can rise above what we see at ground level and gain God’s viewpoint.
Your burdens, every anxious thought, they all fade away when you allow the spirit of God to lift you up into heavenly places and gift you with godly vision. Your worries, your challenges shrink in size when you believe in the “exceeding greatness of His power” to intervene and redirect every situation in your life.
What hinders your sight? What holds your heart back from believing in the power of God extended to you? Life can be incredibly challenging—at times overwhelming—but the resurrection on Sunday morning is the triumph for your Monday morning and every moment of trial and testing you face along the way.
If your vision—your reality of this scriptural truth has wavered, let this be your prayer:
Lord, open my eyes that I may see! Let me see the glorious riches you have for me. Lift me up to sit with you in heavenly places, far above my toils and troubles. Help me to believe in your resurrection power extended to me. Open the eyes of my heart to fully grasp and fully live the life you have called me to. In your holy name, Jesus, I pray!