Open My Eyes...What a Prayer!

Open My Eyes...What a Prayer!

by David Brenneman 

"Open the eyes of my heart, Lord

Open the eyes of my heart
I want to see You
I want to see You

Open the eyes of my heart, Lord
Open the eyes of my heart
I want to see You
I want to see You

To see You high and lifted up
Shinin' in the light of Your glory
Pour out Your power and love
As we sing holy, holy, holy

Open the eyes of my heart, Lord
Open the eyes of my heart
I want to see You
I want to see You

Open the eyes of my heart, Lord
Open the eyes of my heart
I want to see You
I want to see You

To see You high and lifted up
Shinin' in the light of Your glory
Pour out Your power and love
As we sing holy, holy, holy

To see You high and lifted up
Shinin' in the light of Your glory
Pour out Your power and love
As we sing holy, holy, holy

To see You high and lifted up
Shinin' in the light of Your glory
Pour out Your power and love
As we sing holy, holy, holy

Holy, holy, holy
We cry holy, holy, holy
You are holy, holy, holy
I want to see you

Holy, holy, holy
Holy, holy, holy
You are holy, holy, holy
I want to see you

Holy, holy, holy
Holy, holy, holy
Holy, holy, holy,
I want to see you

Holy, holy, holy
Holy, holy, holy
Holy, holy, holy,
I want to see you

Holy, holy, holy
Holy, holy, holy
Holy, holy, holy,
I want to see you

Holy, holy, holy
Holy, holy, holy
Holy, holy, holy,
I want to see you

Holy, holy, holy
Holy, holy, holy
Holy, holy, holy,
I want to see you

Holy, holy, holy
Holy, holy, holy
Holy, holy, holy,
I want to see you" 

- Michael W. Smith 

It is curiosity of a good kind whereas we ask God the question of questions. 

"Open my eyes", that is to say "give me understanding".

We can often have little difficulty praying for our wants. Probably not much difficulty in praying for our desires.  But to pray that the eyes of our hearts and minds be opened to the things of God...hang on.

It takes us deeper into a real life.

"When we walk with the Lord in the light of His Word,

What a glory He sheds on our way!

While we do His good will, He abides with us still,

And with all who will trust and obey.

Refrain:

Trust and obey, for there’s no other way

To be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.

Not a shadow can rise, not a cloud in the skies,

But His smile quickly drives it away;

Not a doubt or a fear, not a sigh or a tear,

Can abide while we trust and obey.

Not a burden we bear, not a sorrow we share,

But our toil He doth richly repay;

Not a grief or a loss, not a frown or a cross,

But is blessed if we trust and obey.

But we never can prove the delights of His love

Until all on the altar we lay;

For the favor He shows, for the joy He bestows,

Are for them who will trust and obey.

Then in fellowship sweet we will sit at His feet,

Or we’ll walk by His side in the way;

What He says we will do, where He sends we will go;

Never fear, only trust and obey." - John H. Sammis 1887

Things begin to happen to our minds when we extend trust to God.  Things that we have never considered gain a footing and purchase in our lives. We begin to see things differently and always in a good way. 

We easily, often, want to feel better. We really like seeing others around us in a good mood.  

When we do indeed pray for our eyes to be opened, to trust God and obey...oh how the mood changes for the better!

God loves to show us things about ourselves, about Him, about others. The Spirit loves to teach us about God and His Christ.  

One of the strangest thoughts that I maintain are a duality of my life. Not in regards to living two lives but knowing two things are always in motion in my life. 

The life that I need to live in regards to myself and others, then there's the plan of God working out in me both for my sanctification in Christ Jesus and the furtherance of the Gospel message. 

I am often at odds with some plans for the future in that I find myself considering those plans in light of eternity.  Is doing this or that really going to matter in the scheme of things?

A good example is additional schooling. I have been at odds for a very long time about that. The only guaranteed beneficial schooling has to do with being taught and understanding more about Jesus through the Spirit. Worldly knowledge and understanding sometimes gets you something or takes your life somewhere, sometimes not. There are no guarantees with a 4 year degree and hundreds of thousands of dollars in debt from it.

When you pray a prayer like "Show me more" hang on because if your heart is right before God, in due time, it WILL be answered. 

We CAN ask God for anything in His Name for sure. But a prayer that bolsters our faith and our understanding of God goes to the top in what is often answered first. 

I am blown away by the things that the Spirit shows me at the oddest times that I am considering Scriptures that I have read.  It's awesome to behold and amazing to comprehend when it's about God or His Word. 

Our time on Earth as a Christian is multifaceted. We are to live out lives but in a way that glorifies God. We live lives in study of God through His Word and the Spirit's teaching. We live lives, hopefully, in obedience to what we have been taught through the Scriptures.  We are identified as Children of God. Joint heirs with Christ Jesus. This world is not our home. We are visiting and yet make every effort to live a good life here. 

We can pray for what pangs our hearts. The things that are happening to others. We can pray for understanding and wisdom as Solomon did. We have the promise of God that to all who pray that particular prayer it indeed will be granted.

James 1:5 NASB "But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him."

We can pray such things, but do we? We are His workmanship. Not a project that was began and sits unfinished like we often do with things in our lives. But what DOES that passage say? Ephesians 2:10 NASB "For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them." ARE is the word used. Are is an active word. In progress is a better idea. 

Philippians 1:6 NASB "For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work among you will complete it by the day of Christ Jesus."

Consider these verses with this one: Deuteronomy 31:6 NASB "Be strong and courageous, do not be afraid or in dread of them, for the Lord your God is the One who is going with you. He will not desert you or abandon you.” 

Or this:

Joshua 1:5 NASB "No one will be able to oppose you all the days of your life. Just as I have been with Moses, I will be with you; I will not desert you nor abandon you."

We have the hope of Christ Jesus because of our relationship with Him. 

We should make whatever is important to Him, important to us. 

We should want to see life the way He wants it seen. 

We should but do we?  Consider this day that has been granted to you.  First, you didn't earn the right to this day let alone this moment in time. God gave it to you. 

What will you do with it that brings honor to your Savior in it?  Has that even crossed your mind? 

Have you ever entertained the thought of asking God "show me more"?  More of Himself, of His plans, of how you fit into them.  Yes you DO have a part in God's plans for humanity.  When we find salvation in Christ Jesus we find a job awaits us. We too are sent out into His fields to do that which He deems needing done. Colossians 3:23-24. Romans 12. Other passages about responsibility in the body of Christ Jesus. 

Praying that our eyes be opened, that we receive Spiritual understanding is huge. It's something that truly brings joy to Jesus.  That we would WANT to get to know Him more. Think about that in these moments of your life before you go out into the world. Pray that your eyes be opened. Pray and see what comes next.