Ephesians 1:17-19
“I pray 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 his holy people, and his incomparably great power for us who believe.”
Are my eyes open? Hebrews 11:1 says “Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.” As Christ followers we know that a supernatural kingdom reigns beyond what we can see with our physical eyes. Like a theatrical play where an audience sees a polished production on a stage, we are aware that if one pulls back the curtain, a whole different perspective lies behind the scenes – the backstage crew, costume changes, preparation, scenes and props about to be used. What if the Spirit allowed us to “pull back the curtain” and get a glimpse of occurrences in the spiritual realm? What would we see? Paul prayed for the believers in Ephesus that the “eyes of their heart” would be enlightened: their very core illuminated with light as they saw beyond the physical world into the hope and purpose of the spiritual world. We can certainly go through the motions of this life and not really “see” what the Spirit is doing behind the scenes. The prayer to “open our eyes” infers an expectancy, anticipation, and awareness of God’s work around us. Spirit, open our eyes to see you and your work.
Are my ears open? Just yesterday, while on a morning walk, my mind was full of thoughts. My legs were moving but I was all up in my head, not at all paying attention to my surroundings. All of a sudden, my ears tuned in to a radiant chorus the birds were singing. I listened to how one bird led out and another one echoed and how others joined in. The Spirit reminded me that in my busyness, I often tune out His voice as well – and there may be a symphony being sung around me unknowingly. The symbol of open ears infers obedience. Spirit, open our ears to your word and your voice.
Is my mind understanding? Once the Spirit has shown us evidence of Him with our eyes, and spoken in ways that we have heard with our ears, the next question arises: will our minds understand what He’s revealed? Jesus patiently shared with his disciples about the parable of the seed and sower. He challenged them to be people who saw, heard, and understood – turning and taking action. It’s one thing to see evidence of God, hear truth from His word or sense a command, but another thing to understand what the message means and take action steps to obey. We rely on the Holy Spirit to open our minds and bring fresh revelation and meaning to what we experience.
The opening of our eyes, ears, and mind takes intentionality. Our hunger for more of God encourages an openness, a willingness, and an expectancy that as we yield ourselves, He will reveal Himself and fill us. The prophet Isaiah, speaking of the unbelieving people said, “Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts and turn, and I would heal them.” He longs to be near, to illuminate truth, to reveal mysteries through His Spirit, to inspire repentance and action, and to heal.” As we pull back the curtain, may our eyes and ears and mind be opened to experience all He has for us.
Listening prayer:
I long for more of you. Holy Spirit, where am I closing eyes because I don’t want to see, or plugging my ears because I’m scared to listen, or trying to understand on my own without you? What is at the root of my closed posture? Reveal that to me now. Pray as the Holy Spirit directs.
Prayer:
Oh Mighty God, you are a God of mystery. There is none like You. I long to be a follower whose eyes are wide open to see you and your work around me. Remove the things in me that prevent me from seeing, hearing, and understanding. May my ears be attuned to your voice and the whispers of your Spirit so I may learn and obey. Open my mind to understand you and your Kingdom ways. We long for more of you. Pull back the curtain and reveal more of yourself- show us your glory. In the beautiful name of Jesus we pray, Amen.
Resource: Bible Verses on Eyes to See, Ears to Hear, Minds to Understand
Proverbs 4:20-22
“My son, pay attention to my words and be willing to learn; Open your ears to my sayings.”
Ephesians 1:18
“Pray that the eyes of your heart will be open to know Christ and that your ears would be attentive to His Word.”
Matthew 13:13-17
“This is why I speak to them in parables: “Though seeing, they do not see; though hearing, they do not hear or understand. In them is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah: “ ‘You will be ever hearing but never understanding; you will be ever seeing but never perceiving. For this people’s heart has become calloused; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts and turn, and I would heal them.’ But blessed are your eyes because they see, and your ears because they hear. For truly I tell you, many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it. “