Before I even began thinking about this post this morning, the Lord spoke to my heart about eyes of faith–seeing in our hearts the results of that for which we pray. I’m sure that you, like me, are praying and believing God for many miracles right now–healing or salvation for a loved one, revival in our churches and across our nation, reconciliation for relationships, financial provision, protection, and the list goes on.
But God asked me this morning how much of these answers I really expected to see. How many prayers do I pray–and I believe that God can answer–but I don’t really “see” it with the eyes of faith because I am seeing so much in the natural that is contrary to what I’m praying for. Can I get a witness?
That’s how the Psalmist felt.
Psalm 119:121-128 ~ Ayin
I have done what is righteous and just; do not leave me to my oppressors. Ensure your servant’s well-being; let not the arrogant oppress me. My eyes fail, looking for your salvation, looking for your righteous promise. Deal with your servant according to your love and teach me your decrees. I am your servant; give me discernment that I may understand your statutes. It is time for you to act, O LORD; your law is being broken. Because I love your commands more than gold, more than pure gold, and because I consider all your precepts right, I hate every wrong path (NIV).
Psalm 119 is an amazing acrostic of the Hebrew alphabet with every eight verses beginning with the subsequent Hebrew letter. These verses all begin with the letter ayin. The ancient pictograph for ayin looks like an eye, and the word itself means “eye,” “to see,” or “to understand,” and carried with it the idea of spiritual discernment.
In Old Testament language, the concept of the eyes failing was often used to describe failing strength, grief, or longings unfulfilled and hopes deferred.
My eyes grow weak with sorrow; they fail because of all my foes (Psalm 6:7).
My heart pounds, my strength fails me; even the light has gone from my eyes (Psalm 38:10).
I am worn out calling for help; my throat is parched. My eyes fail looking for my God (Psalm 69:3).
Do you ever feel this way when you pray and pray for some situation to change, but what you see with your physical eyes stays the same. Or gets worse! That is the concept the Psalmist expressed in these verses, but look carefully at his conclusion to the matter: While he waits on God to act, he continues to love God’s Word and hate what is wrong.
I want to encourage you today, as the Lord has encouraged me. Begin to pray with your eyes open–open to the possibilities of what He can do. Instead of just praying, start seeing with eyes of faith. Ask God to give you discernment and spiritual understanding of your situation. Some things take time and others require action. But all things need faith–not just with our words–but with our hearts.
Be encouraged with these Scriptures today:
For the eyes of the LORD range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him (2 Chronicles 16:9).
However, as it is written: “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him”–but God has revealed it to us by his Spirit (1 Corinthians 2:9-10).
So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal (2 Corinthians 4:18).
Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God (Hebrews 12:2).
So for today, let’s pray, not just believing what God can do, but seeing it with our eyes of faith. Picture your loved one accepting His forgiveness and grace. See with your heart the revival coming to your church. Envision a move of God unlike anything you’ve ever seen. And then remember that He is able to do above and beyond anything we can imagine!
My prayer for you today is this:
…that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and his incomparably great power for us who believe (Ephesians 1:18-19).
One day we shall see Him face to face, because He is coming in the clouds and every eye will see Him! Until then, may the eyes of your heart see. Truly see.