Eyes to See
Have you ever had a conversation where you walked away with a feeling of unrest? After processing it, you may have felt unsettled or even sad. I know I have. As I get older, understanding why I experience those feelings becomes important, but it isn't always convenient or something I can address in a timely manner.
During a moment of pressure and frustration, I found myself on my knees, upset with Jesus because things weren’t remaining the same. I felt shaken by the changes happening around me, and it seemed like no one gave me a heads-up. I needed my relationships to stay stable, my home to remain settled, and honestly, I just wanted everything else to calm down. But that’s not how the world works, is it?
There is a prayer we often whisper, or even innocently mutter, in a song asking Jesus for “eyes to see.” It’s what I begrudgingly uttered on that frustrating and confusing day. However, this is a dangerous prayer, probably paralleling a request for patience, in my opinion. It seems innocent and often passive, thrown up as a cry of relief; because we think if He just shows us what we need to know, we will know what to do next. In its purest form, we are asking for Him to help us see the way He does because we want to be more like Him. It’s the goal but such a tall task, if we really think about what that means.
When asking for “eyes to see” or “break my heart for what breaks Yours,” the sight and perspective we are going to receive isn’t what we assume. It’s not eyes to see everyone’s secrets and weaknesses, but sometimes we wish it was; because we think if we could just KNOW and SEE the whole picture, we could confirm our rightness or validate our stance.
It’s not all-knowing vision. It’s a veil that gets lifted from our eyes that allows us to view what Jesus knows personally and specifically that will change us. Individually. It is a limited specific vision. Most of the time, it’s a small snippet of a memory or a Holy Spirit nudge into a situation that needs healing. It’s a redirection. The perspectives the Holy Spirit typically illuminates lay out in a way that takes the focus off of “me” and puts it back on Him. We can get so wrapped up in how everything affects us that we forget that everything was made to glorify Him.
1 Corinthians 14 is stocked with verses conveying that every gift, every perspective, and every revelation is for the building up of Jesus and His Church.
“for their strengthening, encouragement, and consolation,” (V. 3),
“builds up the church,” (V. 4),
“so that the church may be built up,” (V. 5),
“see to excel in building up the church,” (V. 12), and
“Everything is to be done for building up.” (V. 26)
When Jesus does change our vision and perspective, then what? It’s a dangerous prayer, because it’s not just a change in vision; it’s a change in function, in action, in a call to be more like Him and ask “what does Jesus see?” Because if everything is meant to be done to build Him and His church up, my opinion on how JESUS views a person or situation is not important.
Just like too much exposure to bright light can damage our physical eyes, our eye-gate can damage our souls with what we view, then start to believe, because we depend on our perspective instead of asking Him what His is first. We are responsible for what we choose to look at as much as we are to what Jesus shows us and how we let either of those things change us. Let Him bring the first truth. Let Him show up before your attitude. Let Him do the heavy lifting of navigating next steps.
We absolutely have a part to play, and in all honesty, you probably shouldn’t pray for “eyes to see” if you aren’t fully prepared to be obedient. When Jesus makes a shift, even in our perspective giving us clear sight into a situation, we are responsible for the holy knowledge and divine revelations that follow. For me, what I saw broke my heart because I was finally able to see I wasn’t at peace because my motivations were selfish in not wanting change and growth. I wanted safety, but safety doesn’t build the church. Faith and depending on a God that died and came back to life does. My opinions are just that, MINE. Not His.
So as we dive into this new series and digest all that happened at Conference, may we be aware of our perspective and what it is telling us. Is it advancing His bride? Is it edifying and encouraging those around me? Or have I actually limited myself by thinking my opinion is the only one? Or am I more focused on my part to play then getting to know the One Who made me who I am?
PRAYER: Jesus, show us where we need to pause. Guide us back to You. Remind us that Your view is the best. Purify our minds. Set our eyes on You.
During a moment of pressure and frustration, I found myself on my knees, upset with Jesus because things weren’t remaining the same. I felt shaken by the changes happening around me, and it seemed like no one gave me a heads-up. I needed my relationships to stay stable, my home to remain settled, and honestly, I just wanted everything else to calm down. But that’s not how the world works, is it?
There is a prayer we often whisper, or even innocently mutter, in a song asking Jesus for “eyes to see.” It’s what I begrudgingly uttered on that frustrating and confusing day. However, this is a dangerous prayer, probably paralleling a request for patience, in my opinion. It seems innocent and often passive, thrown up as a cry of relief; because we think if He just shows us what we need to know, we will know what to do next. In its purest form, we are asking for Him to help us see the way He does because we want to be more like Him. It’s the goal but such a tall task, if we really think about what that means.
When asking for “eyes to see” or “break my heart for what breaks Yours,” the sight and perspective we are going to receive isn’t what we assume. It’s not eyes to see everyone’s secrets and weaknesses, but sometimes we wish it was; because we think if we could just KNOW and SEE the whole picture, we could confirm our rightness or validate our stance.
It’s not all-knowing vision. It’s a veil that gets lifted from our eyes that allows us to view what Jesus knows personally and specifically that will change us. Individually. It is a limited specific vision. Most of the time, it’s a small snippet of a memory or a Holy Spirit nudge into a situation that needs healing. It’s a redirection. The perspectives the Holy Spirit typically illuminates lay out in a way that takes the focus off of “me” and puts it back on Him. We can get so wrapped up in how everything affects us that we forget that everything was made to glorify Him.
1 Corinthians 14 is stocked with verses conveying that every gift, every perspective, and every revelation is for the building up of Jesus and His Church.
“for their strengthening, encouragement, and consolation,” (V. 3),
“builds up the church,” (V. 4),
“so that the church may be built up,” (V. 5),
“see to excel in building up the church,” (V. 12), and
“Everything is to be done for building up.” (V. 26)
When Jesus does change our vision and perspective, then what? It’s a dangerous prayer, because it’s not just a change in vision; it’s a change in function, in action, in a call to be more like Him and ask “what does Jesus see?” Because if everything is meant to be done to build Him and His church up, my opinion on how JESUS views a person or situation is not important.
Just like too much exposure to bright light can damage our physical eyes, our eye-gate can damage our souls with what we view, then start to believe, because we depend on our perspective instead of asking Him what His is first. We are responsible for what we choose to look at as much as we are to what Jesus shows us and how we let either of those things change us. Let Him bring the first truth. Let Him show up before your attitude. Let Him do the heavy lifting of navigating next steps.
We absolutely have a part to play, and in all honesty, you probably shouldn’t pray for “eyes to see” if you aren’t fully prepared to be obedient. When Jesus makes a shift, even in our perspective giving us clear sight into a situation, we are responsible for the holy knowledge and divine revelations that follow. For me, what I saw broke my heart because I was finally able to see I wasn’t at peace because my motivations were selfish in not wanting change and growth. I wanted safety, but safety doesn’t build the church. Faith and depending on a God that died and came back to life does. My opinions are just that, MINE. Not His.
So as we dive into this new series and digest all that happened at Conference, may we be aware of our perspective and what it is telling us. Is it advancing His bride? Is it edifying and encouraging those around me? Or have I actually limited myself by thinking my opinion is the only one? Or am I more focused on my part to play then getting to know the One Who made me who I am?
PRAYER: Jesus, show us where we need to pause. Guide us back to You. Remind us that Your view is the best. Purify our minds. Set our eyes on You.
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3 Comments
This...this...this is truth.
nThis is hard-hitting soul-piercing truth.
nThis is Hebrews 4:12.
nThank you Father through Your Son & Holy Spirit for this.
So goooood ! Thought provoking in every way. May we decrease , so HE can increase !
That’s two in a row I have read from you, really Raw, convicting and deeply honest. Love it Whitney keep sharing your truth I know it helps me, can’t speak for anyone else.