Open my eyes that I may see
wonderful things in your law (Psalm 119:18, NIV).
Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures (Luke 24:45).
What we have received is not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may understand what God has freely given us (1 Corinthians 2:12)
The Word of God is full of insights that we can easily skip right over if we are not reading it through a spiritual lens. God has revealed His truth, His love, His purpose, and His grace through the Words so eloquently inspired by the Holy Spirit. When we turn to the Bible, we should first pray, asking God to reveal to us His Word through the lens of the Holy Spirit. The same Word that we seek to understand says that the Spirit of God gives us the ability to understand what God has freely given. He has opened our minds to understand the scriptures.
When we read the Bible without asking for God’s revelation, we often miss just that! There are so many truths that can be revealed in a small verse, but missed when reading with the mindset of a historian or if reading the Bible as one reads a novel. For example, consider this verse:
“Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift all of you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers” (Luke 22:31-32).
When looking at this passage with human eyes, one might see that Satan was attacking Simon and Jesus prayed a prayer of protection over him. However, when viewing this through the spiritual eyes given by revelation of the Holy Spirit, one might understand additional revelations. For example, Peter’s faith needed to be strengthened in order to carry out a future mission that Jesus assigned to him. Jesus knew that without divine faith, Peter would not serve his purpose as a church planter in the middle of massive persecution that was on the horizon. In addition, Jesus set an example that we must pray for the unfailing faith of Christian leaders.
Before you begin to read your Bible, pray and ask God to give you wisdom and understanding before you read. You might find revelations in the truth of God that you have not noticed before. The Apostle Paul prayed for the Ephesians, when he wrote:
I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. 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 (Ephesians 1:17-18).
This is my prayer for you as you move on your journey to know the Lord better.
May God give you wisdom and revelation that will bring forth all understanding that surpasses the knowledge of this world.
Be blessed in all you do!
Your brother in Christ,
Tim
wonderful things in your law (Psalm 119:18, NIV).
Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures (Luke 24:45).
What we have received is not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may understand what God has freely given us (1 Corinthians 2:12)
The Word of God is full of insights that we can easily skip right over if we are not reading it through a spiritual lens. God has revealed His truth, His love, His purpose, and His grace through the Words so eloquently inspired by the Holy Spirit. When we turn to the Bible, we should first pray, asking God to reveal to us His Word through the lens of the Holy Spirit. The same Word that we seek to understand says that the Spirit of God gives us the ability to understand what God has freely given. He has opened our minds to understand the scriptures.
When we read the Bible without asking for God’s revelation, we often miss just that! There are so many truths that can be revealed in a small verse, but missed when reading with the mindset of a historian or if reading the Bible as one reads a novel. For example, consider this verse:
“Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift all of you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers” (Luke 22:31-32).
When looking at this passage with human eyes, one might see that Satan was attacking Simon and Jesus prayed a prayer of protection over him. However, when viewing this through the spiritual eyes given by revelation of the Holy Spirit, one might understand additional revelations. For example, Peter’s faith needed to be strengthened in order to carry out a future mission that Jesus assigned to him. Jesus knew that without divine faith, Peter would not serve his purpose as a church planter in the middle of massive persecution that was on the horizon. In addition, Jesus set an example that we must pray for the unfailing faith of Christian leaders.
Before you begin to read your Bible, pray and ask God to give you wisdom and understanding before you read. You might find revelations in the truth of God that you have not noticed before. The Apostle Paul prayed for the Ephesians, when he wrote:
I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. 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 (Ephesians 1:17-18).
This is my prayer for you as you move on your journey to know the Lord better.
May God give you wisdom and revelation that will bring forth all understanding that surpasses the knowledge of this world.
Be blessed in all you do!
Your brother in Christ,
Tim
RSS Feed