Eyes Wide Open

“Open my eyes that I may see wonderful things in your law.” Psalm 119:18

 

Do you find the Bible boring?

Have you tried reading it, but either it doesn’t make sense, doesn’t seem to apply to your life, or you just don’t seem to get it?

Perhaps the problem lies in not preparing to read it. Just as we must shop before we cook or pack before we travel, savoring the journey in God’s Word also requires some preparation.

How do you get ready to read the Bible?

I’m glad you asked!

The answer: You pray! If you have no words of your own, simply use the words from the Psalmist above and pray them back to God.

Asking, in itself, places us in a posture of humility. When we ask God to reveal truth – to open our eyes – we acknowledge that we are unable to get it on our own, to see what is there, or to understand what we read.

Humility fosters a teachable spirit. Pride, on the other hand, bristles up refusing to ask and, therefore, struggling to learn. James puts it bluntly, “You do not have because you do not ask God.” James 4:2

Admitting how much we don’t know and understand allows us to learn new things.

Asking to see “wonderful things in your law” is a declaration of faith: I know it’s there, God … help me see it!

Will you commit today to preparing to read God’s Word before you open your Bible? Will you ask God to give you both faith that there is something there for you and focus so you don’t miss it?

 

Laura Macfarlan