Clarity

Appearances do not always reveal what is true. Jesus explained this to his disciples in Matthew 13: 13-15. “This is why I speak to them in parables: ‘Though seeing, they do not see; though hearing, they do not hear or understand. In them is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah: You will be ever hearing but never understanding; you will be ever seeing but never perceiving. For this people’s heart has become calloused; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts and turn, and I would heal them.’” Jesus spoke of those who live by their physical senses. They have to physically see and hear in order to believe.

Emotional pain can create a calloused heart—one which erects walls in order to protect itself.  However that protection is no protection at all. It keeps out the healing presence of the Holy Spirit. I do not want to have a calloused heart and mind that listens to the enemy’s lies, keeps out the Holy Spirit, and never perceives what Christ really imparts. I want to perceive with an open heart, ears, eyes, and mind. I long for Him to see in me the quality He saw in His disciples. “But blessed are your eyes because they see, and your ears because they hear. For truly I tell you, many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it” (Matthew 13:16-17). Jesus now speaks of those who live by their spiritual senses. They do not have to physically see and hear in order to believe.

What about you? Do you respond with your physical senses and miss the spiritual aspect of what the Holy Spirit has for you? Do you listen with your physical ears and not hear what the Holy Spirit imparts? Do you see with your physical eyes and miss what lies beneath the surface? He offers more than what you physically see and hear. He offers His understanding that has the power to change your life.

Help, me, Lord, to strip away callouses that hide my heart from your healing presence. I’m tired of building walls that only keep me from understanding your love. I long for your spiritual clarity—to look beneath all I see and hear, and understand your truth with my heart and mind. I choose to lay aside all my physical emotions and feelings and seek your truth. Help me to believe that I can walk by faith, and not by sight. Help me to believe that when you speak your word, I am healed.

©2017 Lynn Lacher