New Eyes...

New Eyes...1-14-26

I have been praying for New Eyes. I pray for God to give me eyes that see Him in every situation. This prayer has been ongoing for some time. I desire my focus to be Christ-centered in everything. Some areas are easy to see God. Other areas are easy to focus on what Satan is trying to do within our lives and the world. I don't want to be focused on what the devil is doing because that takes my eyes off Him.

Actions: 26:17-18: "I will rescue you from your own people and from the Gentiles. I am sending you to them to open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.’ As Paul is talking to Agrippa, he is sharing his testimony. His transformation on the road to Damascus. We should be sharing the gospel of Jesus with eyes focused on Him. By sharing the gospel, we are opening other people's eyes. We are testifying to our eyes being opened by Jesus. We are turning the focus from Satan to God and sharing the light of Jesus with others. Sunday during Children's Church, I was supposed to teach the children about Paul's eyes, his new eyes. He was blinded by the light, had walked in darkness, and was transformed by Jesus into a new being. He was given new eyes to see.

I want new eyes in my Bible study as well. Last night, I was reading in John. I have been trying to focus on seeing the passages with my new eyes. I have been praying for God to reveal in each scripture what He wants me to see while reading. As I read from John 13 about Jesus washing His disciples feet, John 14 where Jesus comforts His disciples, and came to the scripture which was so beloved by my father-in-law, John 14:2-4, "My Father's house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going." Jesus spent His last night on Earth comforting those He loved. He gave them instructions. As I read on, I came to a part of John that I had read many times, but...Jesus prays for His disciples to His Father in John 17. My eyes were wet as I really saw the scriptures. I really saw the words. I felt the impact of what I was reading with my new eyes. I read as Jesus petitioned His Father for the disciples protection. He says in verse 15, "My prayer is not that you take them out of the world, but that you protect them from the evil one." He goes on to say in verse 20, "My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message," That is me. That is you. Jesus prayed for us while His persecutors plotted His death. I am finding my vision is clearing with my new eyes.