Have you ever wanted to see more clearly with your spiritual eyes? This would mean:
Engaging in the hope to which you have been called in Christ (Ephesians 1:18)
Perceiving the spiritual realm (2 Kings 6:17),
Discovering revelation in the Word of God (Psalm 119:18),
Recognizing the presence of Jesus (Luke 24:31),
Seeing opportunities for evangelism (John 4:35), and
Keeping the focus of your life on Jesus Christ (Hebrews 12:2).
Is this what you want for your life?
In today’s post, I will share with you three keys to help you live with your spiritual eyes opened.
Key #1: Spend Time in the Light
In the natural realm, it doesn’t do you any good to have your eyes open if you’re in a pitch-black room. Without light, there is nothing to see. The same goes for the spiritual realm. It wouldn’t do you any good to have your eyes open if you were living in darkness.
Where does spiritual light come from?
1 John 1:5 – This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. (NIV)
And how do we enter that light?
John 12:46 – [Jesus said:] I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness. (NIV)
To believe in Jesus is a far weightier thing than to merely believe that He exists. To believe in Him is to put all your trust in Him. It is to commit your life to Him. Colossians 1:13 tells us that through Christ, God has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into a different kingdom. And 1 Peter 2:9 tells us that God has called you out of darkness and into His marvelous light. God is Light, and the only way to enter God’s presence is through Christ. He is the way, the truth, and the life—no one comes to God the Father except through Him (John 14:6).
And how do we know if we are currently living in the light?
1 John 2:9 – Anyone who claims to be in the light but hates a brother or sister is still in the darkness. (NIV)
1 John 1:7 – But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin. (NIV)
Key #2: Ask the Lord to Open Your Eyes
When it comes to spiritual eyes, our usual problem is not that they are simply closed, but rather that they are blind.
2 Corinthians 4:4 – The god of this age [Satan] has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. (NIV)
In the natural realm, blindness isn’t fixed by merely opening one’s eyes; and the same goes for the spiritual realm. The only solution is healing, and the only source for that healing is Jesus Christ.
Isaiah 42:7 – [God the Father sent Jesus] to open eyes that are blind, to free captives from prison and to release from the dungeon those who sit in darkness. (NIV)
Revelation 3:15–19 – [Jesus said,] “I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm–neither hot nor cold–I am about to spit you out of my mouth. You say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’ But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked. I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see. Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest and repent.” (NIV, emphasis added)
We cannot open our own spiritual eyes. All we can do is come to Christ the Healer and humbly cry out for His awakening of our spiritual eyes. Repentance is a gift from God (Acts 5:31), so we can’t successfully do it in our own strength.
Only Jesus can open your spiritual eyes, so make Him the center of your life in all things. Whenever it seems that you can’t see spiritually, talk to Him about it. He wants to open your eyes.
Key #3: Exercise Your Spiritual Senses
My wife’s grandmother recently had knee surgery. Part of the recovery is physical therapy. She is constantly reminded to get up and walk to exercise the knee. According to the doctors, she has had a miraculous, unexplainable recovery. As much as we know God has been the driving force of that recovery, we also know that her exercise hasn’t been without effect.
When it comes to our physical eyes, the more we use them, the more we are able to do with them. By reason of use, we learn to read, distinguish faces, sense danger, and recognize familiar places.
Think about how your eyes had to be trained when you learned to drive. Until that time, your eyes had only needed to process information at a maximum of about 20 miles per hour (while running). But when you got behind the wheel of that first car, your eyes suddenly had to process information much more quickly—about 70 miles per hour here in the States. Now consider race car drivers and fighter pilots—imagine how fast their eyes need to work! By reason of use, we can train our eyes to keep us safe and effective in our work.
Again, the same goes for our spiritual senses. By using our spiritual eyes regularly, our discernment is strengthened.
Hebrews 5:14 – But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil. (NKJV)
Finally, what should you do when your spiritual eyes are open?
When Jesus opened the apostle Paul’s spiritual eyes, He gave him a mission:
Acts 26:17b–18 – …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. (NIV)
If you are walking in the light, then you need to invite others into that light. Proclaim the Good News of Jesus Christ through the power of the Holy Spirit. Continue to exercise your spiritual eyes. Engage in the hope to which you have been called in Christ. Perceive the spiritual realm. Discover revelation in the Word of God. Recognize the presence of Jesus in everyday circumstances. See opportunities for evangelism. And keep the focus of your life on Jesus Christ.
Ephesians 1:18–19a – I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you will know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe… (NASB)
Are your spiritual eyes open?
God bless!
–Art
