Dear special sisters in the Lord,
One of the most powerful prayers that Paul prayed is found in Ephesians 1:15-19. Paul prayed for God to enlighten the eyes of the Ephesians’ hearts. In essence, Paul was praying for God to open their hearts to understanding. Verse 18 says, “I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which He has called you.†Sometimes we need to be reminded how often the Scriptures speak of God opening the hearts of men and women, calling us to respond to Him. This week I have been inspired to write a message that resonates in my own heart and pray that it will also speak to your heart:
As God opens the eyes of our heart, we look forward with anticipation for Him to reveal more of Himself in our lives. By God’s amazing grace and blessed assurance, He opens our hearts to fully understand the hidden things, even the hidden things of our own heart that we are incapable of seeing otherwise. Only God’s wisdom opens the eyes of our hearts, enabling us to recognize our faults and His willingness to salvage our lives for His glory. It is comforting to know that God is willing to provide us with His grace, without holding our inadequacies against us. James 1:5 reveals, “If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.†What a gracious merciful God!
In Psalm 119:18-19, the psalmist speaks of God opening his heart: “Open my eyes that I may see wonderful things in your law. I am a stranger on earth; do not hide your commands from me.†This was a very intimate request, and we might be led to believe it was uttered by one who is at peace with himself and God. But let us read on: “My soul faints for longing for your salvation, but I have put my hope in your Word. My eyes fail, looking for your promise; I say, “When will you comfort me?†(Psalm 119:81-82).
When God seeks to open our hearts it is often painful. When Paul wrote to the Corinthians about their problems, it was painstaking for them as well as for Paul. But Paul knew he had to bring the Corinthians to face their problems before their hearts could be opened. In
2 Corinthians 2:1-4, Paul exhorted: “So I made up my mind that I would not make another painful visit to you. For if I grieve you, who is left to make me glad but you whom I have grieved? I wrote as I did so that when I came I should not be distressed by those who ought to make me rejoice. I had confidence in all of you, that you would all share my joy. For I wrote you out of great distress and anguish of heart and with many tears, not to grieve you but to let you know the depth of my love for you.â€
In a similar way, God opened Paul’s eyes to the hope and power that only He could provide. God’s message to Paul is revealed in 2 Corinthians 12:7-10. Paul professed that he was given a thorn in his flesh and pleaded to God three times to remove this affliction from him, but God responded, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness†(2 Corinthians 12:9). It may be fair to say that each of us has felt like Paul at some point in our spiritual walk with the Lord. Perhaps you may feel that way during this season. What amazing lessons we learn during these trials, as we draw closer to the Lord.
Just as Paul reached the end of himself, as he wrestled with his personal tribulations, God steps in and opens Paul’s heart to HIS presence. God opened Paul’s eyes to the hope and power only God is able to provide. I believe this was the thrust of Paul being able to write such an inspiring passage as the one found in Philippians 2:12-13: “Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed – not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence – continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to His good purpose.â€
God had been working in Paul’s own heart to bring him to His will and to act according to His good purpose. Paul surrendered himself to God and became completely dependent upon Him. Then Paul realized that God’s power was perfected through his weaknesses. It was then that Paul discovered the true meaning of God’s grace. I find Paul’s transformation truly exciting, which came about due to Paul’s complete submission and obedience to the Lord.
Having the eyes of our heart opened may sound soothing and refreshing, but the process may be earth shattering. God has a way of forcing us to see what we do not desire seeing in ourselves. For an example, God opened the eyes of David’s heart to his adulterous and murdering ways. After David repented, he became completely dependent upon God to renew a right spirit within his heart. In Psalm 51:10-12, David petitioned God to “Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.â€
There were times in David’s life when he saw the Lord as his shepherd leading him through the dark valleys. Yet, in those times when God’s hand of judgment was upon him, his strength was sapped. It was then that David feared that God would cast him away from His presence. David cried out to God: †. . . Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones you have crushed rejoice†(Psalms 51:8). God’s blessings are often realized only when God brings us to the end of ourselves. There are numerous other examples throughout Scripture, exemplifying how God is the Master of opening our hearts.
Returning to the wonderful lessons of Paul, we encounter a most liberating truth from God’s Word, when he prayed for the Ephesians that “the eyes of your heart might be opened.†One translation says, “that the eyes of your heart might be enlightened or flooded with light.†When Paul speaks of your heart, he is referring to the place where decisions of life are made; where you make a conscious choice what values you will live by; and how you will spend each day, in accordance with God’s will and plan for your life.
Our heart has eyes that can be opened or shut. When the eyes of our heart are closed to the light of God, we stumble around blindly through life without His direction. When the eyes of our heart are shut, we do not receive moral vision. When that occurs, the light of God is shut out of our life and we are blind spiritually. Obviously this is not a good place to be. Opening blind eyes is the supernatural work of the Holy Spirit, who is the source of our hope.
This week I pray that we each ask God to open the eyes of our heart to receive His will and direction for our lives. This means that we need to come before Him in complete surrender and obedience, enabling His will for our lives to be revealed. May there be an out-pouring of His Spirit of mercy, grace, and truth in our lives. I wish each of you a very blessed week ahead.
Grateful to be in His service,
Eileen
One of the most powerful prayers that Paul prayed is found in Ephesians 1:15-19. Paul prayed for God to enlighten the eyes of the Ephesians’ hearts. In essence, Paul was praying for God to open their hearts to understanding. Verse 18 says, “I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which He has called you.†Sometimes we need to be reminded how often the Scriptures speak of God opening the hearts of men and women, calling us to respond to Him. This week I have been inspired to write a message that resonates in my own heart and pray that it will also speak to your heart:
Open The Eyes Of My Heart Lord
As God opens the eyes of our heart, we look forward with anticipation for Him to reveal more of Himself in our lives. By God’s amazing grace and blessed assurance, He opens our hearts to fully understand the hidden things, even the hidden things of our own heart that we are incapable of seeing otherwise. Only God’s wisdom opens the eyes of our hearts, enabling us to recognize our faults and His willingness to salvage our lives for His glory. It is comforting to know that God is willing to provide us with His grace, without holding our inadequacies against us. James 1:5 reveals, “If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.†What a gracious merciful God!
In Psalm 119:18-19, the psalmist speaks of God opening his heart: “Open my eyes that I may see wonderful things in your law. I am a stranger on earth; do not hide your commands from me.†This was a very intimate request, and we might be led to believe it was uttered by one who is at peace with himself and God. But let us read on: “My soul faints for longing for your salvation, but I have put my hope in your Word. My eyes fail, looking for your promise; I say, “When will you comfort me?†(Psalm 119:81-82).
When God seeks to open our hearts it is often painful. When Paul wrote to the Corinthians about their problems, it was painstaking for them as well as for Paul. But Paul knew he had to bring the Corinthians to face their problems before their hearts could be opened. In
2 Corinthians 2:1-4, Paul exhorted: “So I made up my mind that I would not make another painful visit to you. For if I grieve you, who is left to make me glad but you whom I have grieved? I wrote as I did so that when I came I should not be distressed by those who ought to make me rejoice. I had confidence in all of you, that you would all share my joy. For I wrote you out of great distress and anguish of heart and with many tears, not to grieve you but to let you know the depth of my love for you.â€
In a similar way, God opened Paul’s eyes to the hope and power that only He could provide. God’s message to Paul is revealed in 2 Corinthians 12:7-10. Paul professed that he was given a thorn in his flesh and pleaded to God three times to remove this affliction from him, but God responded, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness†(2 Corinthians 12:9). It may be fair to say that each of us has felt like Paul at some point in our spiritual walk with the Lord. Perhaps you may feel that way during this season. What amazing lessons we learn during these trials, as we draw closer to the Lord.
Just as Paul reached the end of himself, as he wrestled with his personal tribulations, God steps in and opens Paul’s heart to HIS presence. God opened Paul’s eyes to the hope and power only God is able to provide. I believe this was the thrust of Paul being able to write such an inspiring passage as the one found in Philippians 2:12-13: “Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed – not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence – continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to His good purpose.â€
God had been working in Paul’s own heart to bring him to His will and to act according to His good purpose. Paul surrendered himself to God and became completely dependent upon Him. Then Paul realized that God’s power was perfected through his weaknesses. It was then that Paul discovered the true meaning of God’s grace. I find Paul’s transformation truly exciting, which came about due to Paul’s complete submission and obedience to the Lord.
Having the eyes of our heart opened may sound soothing and refreshing, but the process may be earth shattering. God has a way of forcing us to see what we do not desire seeing in ourselves. For an example, God opened the eyes of David’s heart to his adulterous and murdering ways. After David repented, he became completely dependent upon God to renew a right spirit within his heart. In Psalm 51:10-12, David petitioned God to “Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.â€
There were times in David’s life when he saw the Lord as his shepherd leading him through the dark valleys. Yet, in those times when God’s hand of judgment was upon him, his strength was sapped. It was then that David feared that God would cast him away from His presence. David cried out to God: †. . . Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones you have crushed rejoice†(Psalms 51:8). God’s blessings are often realized only when God brings us to the end of ourselves. There are numerous other examples throughout Scripture, exemplifying how God is the Master of opening our hearts.
Returning to the wonderful lessons of Paul, we encounter a most liberating truth from God’s Word, when he prayed for the Ephesians that “the eyes of your heart might be opened.†One translation says, “that the eyes of your heart might be enlightened or flooded with light.†When Paul speaks of your heart, he is referring to the place where decisions of life are made; where you make a conscious choice what values you will live by; and how you will spend each day, in accordance with God’s will and plan for your life.
Our heart has eyes that can be opened or shut. When the eyes of our heart are closed to the light of God, we stumble around blindly through life without His direction. When the eyes of our heart are shut, we do not receive moral vision. When that occurs, the light of God is shut out of our life and we are blind spiritually. Obviously this is not a good place to be. Opening blind eyes is the supernatural work of the Holy Spirit, who is the source of our hope.
This week I pray that we each ask God to open the eyes of our heart to receive His will and direction for our lives. This means that we need to come before Him in complete surrender and obedience, enabling His will for our lives to be revealed. May there be an out-pouring of His Spirit of mercy, grace, and truth in our lives. I wish each of you a very blessed week ahead.
Grateful to be in His service,
Eileen
