I am keenly aware of the precious gift of vision. I am also aware of the difficulty and sadness of the lack of vision. My sister, Diana, was totally blind in one eye and legally blind in the other as a result of Type 1 Diabetes. It broke my heart to see her struggle so. When my youngest sister was married, Diana’s eye bled out and left her temporarily blind in both eyes. She could not see our sister in her beautiful white wedding gown, she could not see her walk down the aisle, and she could not see the spectacular setting of the wedding reception. She was in total darkness.

I admit, I do not like a dim-lighted room. I want the lights bright, that I might see as best as I possibly can. This past year, I had cataracts removed from both eyes, which has helped my eyesight tremendously. I am so thankful for modern medicine.

I recently was watching some video clips of folks who are color blind and were gifted with a special pair of glasses that enabled them to see colors for the very first time. As they put the glasses on, they were immediately overcome with emotion as they saw the splendor and beauty all around them that they had been missing out on.

How’s your vision? Many of us would love to be able to answer that question with a response like, “my vision is 20/20.” Alas, while many of us would like to answer that way, we may need glasses or contacts to get us to that point.

Well, this year is 2020! I know it’s not quite the same as physical vision, but the number of the year gives us an excellent opportunity to take our own “spiritual eye exam.”

Ephesians 1:18 says: “I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened so that you will know what the hope of His calling is, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints.”

There is a song we often hear with the title “Open the Eyes of My Heart.” This song builds on the idea from Ephesians that God wants us to see with the eyes of faith! The eyes of faith go far beyond where our physical or sensory eyes will take us:

Open the eyes of my heart, Lord
Open the eyes of my heart
I want to see You
I want to see You

To see You high and lifted up
Shinin’ in the light of Your glory
Pour out Your power and love
As we sing holy, holy, holy

To see You high and lifted up
Shinin’ in the light of Your glory
Pour out Your power and love
As we sing holy, holy, holy

To see You high and lifted up 
Shinin’…

Open the eyes of my heart, Lord
Open the eyes of my heart
I want to see You
I want to see You

Open the eyes of my heart, Lord
Open the eyes of my heart
I want to see You
I want to see You

To see You high and lifted up
Shinin’ in the light of Your glory
Pour out Your power and love
As we sing holy, holy, holy

Open the eyes of my heart, Lord
Open the eyes of my heart
I want to see You
I want to see You

As we step into the year 2020, I pray your spiritual vision is 20/20, that you might see the splendor and beauty of God all around you, that you might see God not only on the mountain tops but in the deep dark valleys, that you might know beyond a shadow of a doubt that you are walking hand-in-hand with our Creator through each and every day, week, and month of 2020.

Blessings,
Pastor Russel