“Light dawns in the darkness for the upright; he is gracious, merciful, and righteous.” “Open my eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of your law.” Psalm 112:4; 119:18
“Who among you fears the Lord
and obeys the voice of his servant?
Let him who walks in darkness
and has no light
trust in the name of the Lord
and rely on his God.” Isaiah 50:10
“ I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers, that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him, having the eyes of your hearts 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, according to the working of his great might that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places.” Ephesians 1:16-20
Like a watchman, I gazed early at the dark sky, awaiting the coming sun to cast its spell of color on the disarray of clouds strewn across the horizon. As I prayed for insight, I watched the answer of celestial light bring to life and vibrancy what had been only grey streaks moments before. Lit from beneath, the clouds now showed texture and shape, and were tinted with glory. God does that.
In His wondrous way, He enlightens our hearts from inside and unseen places to cause us to see and understand anew. He grants spiritual discernment where we’d had confusion, or no answer. He brings clarity and order to every disarray of emotion and thought. He removes the veil of unbelief when we cry for faith to trust His truth. (Mark 9:24; John 20:25-28; 1 Corinthians 14:33)
Common grace affords some an especially sharp and able intellect, a penchant to think deeply and procure wisdom beyond their years. Yet, for those who do not know Jesus and have not the Spirit, theirs is not a supernatural insight, nor do they have the Spirit’s restraint. “A natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned.” (1 Corinthians 2:14)
For those in Christ, we own spiritual riches, including wisdom and discernment, and the power to implement them. We often need special wisdom for certain situations at specific times, and God grants it, sometimes in answer to our pleading, sometimes as an unexpected anointing. Yet in order for us to develop ongoing, keen spiritual eyesight, He teaches that the foundation for wisdom is to fear Him. He invites us to ask for it, to search for wisdom as treasure. Every murky cloud of unexpected circumstance, disappointment, personal attack, despondency, or forced change is an opportunity to open our eyes to Him and call out, ‘Lord, help me see, and understand!’ Do we avail ourselves His offer? (1 Kings 3:3-9; Psalm 111:10; Proverbs 2:1-11; 9:10; Ephesians 1:3; James 1:5)
Lord, open my eyes daily to You, to all You have given me and have for me. Please grant holy insight and the courage to apply it for my times, for every encounter, for Your praise.
