Prayer Journal
Tuesday, July 18, 2000
How's your vision? 20/20? Perhaps it's not so good. As we get older, one thing is certain, at the age of 40 or so, even those with "good" eyesight , may need reading glasses. Then, as we get older, the degree of our vision "loss" will become greater requiring a new lens prescription.
Marolyn Ford is a long time friend. She had been blind for 13 years until August 26, 1972. That was the date of Acie's birthday (her husband) and they prayed by the bedside, as usual. On this night, God provided the birthday present. Marolyn's sight was restored and she's been telling people ever since of God's amazing love and redemption, using the miracle as a way of attracting listeners. (If you haven't read her story you need to do so. http://www.prayertower.net/MarolynFord/MarolynFord.htm )
Marolyn and I have talked so many times and agree that while physical blindness is bad enough, spiritual blindness is far worse. You can't buy glasses to fix spiritual blindness, it takes "new" eyes. And only Jesus can do that, no doctor, no medicine - only Jesus can restore spiritual eyesight!
What can we do about spiritual near-sightedness? "For if you possess these qualities (faith, goodness, knowledge, self-control, perseverance, godliness, brotherly kindness and love) in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But if anyone does not have them, he is NEARSIGHTED and BLIND, and has forgotten that he has been cleansed from his past sins." 2 Peter 1:8,9 (Re: vs 4-7)
This scripture says we must ADD these qualities by asking God to create them in our lives - in increasing measure . To do less makes us "like" a nearsighted or blind person. And what are they like? A nearsighted person can't see clearly and must be careful in making judgment by lack of focus. A blind person, on the other hand, is ignorant of their surroundings and dependent on someone, or something, to interpret what's around them.
We don't have to be spiritually blind or nearsighted if we are a Christian. We must remember where we were when God rescued us and ask Him to refresh and renew "right" sight within us. If we have any of these qualities mentioned above, we should ask God to "increase" them. If we don't have any of these virtues, we should ask God to create them in us. The scripture promises that in doing so, "we will be effective and productive in our knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ".
Do you want to be "all you can be" in the army of the Lord? Ask him, and he will give you the desires of your heart.
Just Thinkin'.. WebServant
(1) Scripture comes from the Holy Bible, New International Version; (c)1978 by New York International Bible Society
(2) The images used herein were obtained from the Learning Company's ClickArt Christian Graphics Deluxe product, (c)1999 The Learning Company, Inc and its subsidiaries, 88 Roland Way, Novato, CA 94945 USA. All Rights Reserved.
