Having the eyes of your hearts being enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe Ephesians 1: 18-19 ESV.
A few weeks ago I woke to hearing the Holy Spirit saying that the eyes of your understanding be open. I had been praying and asking for wisdom and insight in several aspects of my life and the lives of my family, so I was excited to ponder that phrase. Then the other day I was talking with my six-year-old grandson, and out of the blue he said, “I wish I was blind”. Wow, did that catch me off guard? I should have asked him what made him think that or why? But I was so flabbergasted, I simply said “Oh no, you wouldn’t”. We had arrived at our destination and out he went.
As I pondered the two situations, it made me pause. Are there times or aspects of our lives where we would all rather be blind? Maybe I don’t want to see that homeless man. Would it be “easier” not to see the pain on that woman’s face? Or the confusion in a teenager? If I live in my own darkness, would that make it easier to ignore the darkness in our culture? Perhaps it would be easier to hide from my own sinful ways if I were to try to “hide” and not “see” my own truth? Do we trust that no matter what He shows us is always for our good? Do we trust our God’s characte?
In reality, I think we all have areas of blindness. Some of those areas are from just needing to grow and learn. After I heard those words “the eyes of your understanding be open” I had to admit then that there must be areas of my life in which I was blind! Humbling those it was, I felt excitement to know that I was going to “see” new things! Paul’s prayer and expectation is that when the eyes of our understanding are opened, we will know the hope to which he has called us. It doesn’t matter what our current situations are.
We have an enemy that would not only like to keep us blind but also take away the vision we have. He does this through lies, distractions, and appealing to the lust of the eyes, the pride of life, and the lust of the flesh. Our fleshly senses are so bombarded that we forget the freedom we have in Christ and end back in bondage. He attempts to blind us to the goodness of our Savior and tries to get us to rely on ourselves. He desires to keep us blinded from the hope we have in our own Lord! It is our choice. Will we let him? Or not?
God’s word is opening up in new ways. I am finding myself pondering and studying it in deeper measures. It always surprises me just when I think I already know what I am about to read, and something new pops up! Ephesians 1:18-19 contains amazing promises. Let’s read it in the New Living Translation. I pray that your hearts will be flooded with light so that you can understand the confident hope he has given those he has called—his holy people who are his rich and glorious inheritance. I also pray that you will understand the incredible greatness of God’s power for us who believe him. Flooded with light means there are no dark areas. Everything is open, both the good and the bad. That takes courage! My friends, let us pray. Psalm 119:18 open my eyes that I may behold wondrous things out of your law. ESV.
Choosing to walk in the light versus the darkness is really our choice. The Word warns us that in the last days, many will fall away. I believe that is because they will choose blindness over sight—granted it is the sight that walks by faith. The trials of our faith are many, but so are the victories as we keep on walking in Him.
Father, I thank you. We can come to you no matter the state of our eyesight. I ask that you open our eyes to any area where the enemy has blinded us or is trying to blind us. Help us to see you clearly and the hope you have given to us. In Jesus’ Name, amen.
Faith Encounters 