18 Open my eyes, that I may see
Wondrous things from Your law.
Another magnificent request.
Praying the word of God is one of the most fruitful, beneficial activities we can participate in.
In my mind, I picture a man with his kids. They say, “Dad, can you please take us to the park so we can go on the slide?” And he says to his kids, “Sure! But I also want to take you to Disneyland so you can ride the rollercoaster!” More than what the kids could even imagine! After a few weeks, the initial excitement of the news wears off. So they come and hesitantly ask, “Dad, will you please take us to Disneyland?” And the Dad thinks, “Yeah I will! In fact that was my idea! I want to; I said I would, so I will!”
That’s how it is with God the Father. We go to Him and ask Him for things we think are so huge, but are the spiritual equivalent of a man taking his kids to the park. Then we read the Bible, and He opens our eyes to something wondrous, something breathtaking that completely exceeds anything we could have imagined. So when we ask Him for it in Jesus’ name – that is, because Jesus has made these promises available to us through His death and resurrection – He says, “Yes! Absolutely!” (See 2 Cor 1:20)
Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him 1 Cor 2:9
Beautiful! But if we haven’t seen it or heard it, if it hasn’t entered our hearts – how could we possibly know what those things are? Well, read the next sentence:
But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. 1 Cor 2:10
Notice that it doesn’t say He is going to reveal. He has revealed it to you. If you’re not seeing it, it’s not because He’s not showing it, it’s because you’re not looking.
Imagine if those kids were just crying to their dad all the time, “Please! Please take us to the park so we can slide! Please! Please!” And he can’t get a word in – he’s trying to say, “Disneyland! Rollercoasters!” He puts a poster on the fridge. He buys Mickey Mouse ears and puts them on. But they never stop to listen to what their dad is trying to tell them he wants to do. His plans are better, more than they can even imagine - but they’re missing out because they aren’t connecting with their dad. Selah.
This is why Psalm 119 is worth praying. Pray it now: Lord, please open my eyes that I may see wondrous things from Your law! Asking God sincerely for this will transform the way you approach the word of God. Accept by faith the answer to this prayer, being totally confident that it is God’s will, and start anticipating that you will see amazing things in the Bible.
Back to 1 Corinthians, He goes on to say that one of the reasons why He has given us His Spirit: “that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God. 1 Cor 2:12
Notice again the tense – have been given. He hasn’t given us to Spirit so that He can give us things, but so that we can know what He’s already given.
God has wondrous things to show you in His word. He wants to show you – that’s why He wrote this prayer in His word: to teach you to ask Him for it!
“If you will pray this prayer, I will answer it. It is My heart’s desire to open your eyes to the things I have for you – presents that remain unwrapped. It is My pleasure to hide things for you, My child, and to see the joy on your face when you uncover the marvelous mysteries in My word. Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks, it will be opened. If you ask Me for bread, will I give you a stone?”
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
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