There is a popular Christian Contemporary song, written by Paul Baloche, “Open The Eyes Of My Heart” (see below) that can be sung as a prayer. It’s a personal request to God. The song is based on Paul’s writings to the Ephesians and is based on Eph 1:18-   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.

I believe that we can refer back to Luke 24:13-35 for further ensight into the words open the eyes of my heart. To recap the story. After the resurrection of Jesus, two men were walking from Jerusalem to Emmaus, which is about a distance of seven miles. They were discussing everything that had happened, when Jesus comes by and walks with them. Those two men did not recognize him. This is important, they were kept from recognizing Jesus, Luke 24:16.  Many people miss the significance of this verse.

Why did they not recognize Jesus? According to the verse, they should have but there eyes were blind to who he was. They were blind, physically and spiritually, to who was speaking to them.  As we read further, we find that they were surprised that this man seemed blind to what had happened in Jerusalem. They went on to tell Jesus about his death and resurrection. It would appear that they were believers.

Jesus, then said to them, Luke 24:25-27 “How foolish you are, and how slow to believe all that the prophets have spoken! 26 Did not the Messiah have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?” 27 And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself.”

They were approaching Emmaus and it appeared that Jesus was continuing on, however; because it was near dark, they invited him to stay with them for the night. This is where it happens….Jesus opens their spiritual eyes.. Luke 24:31 Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him, and he disappeared from their sight

Open the eyes of my heart should not be the prayer of just Believers but non-believers as well. Paul in 2  Cor 4:4 writes
“The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.”

A simple prayer

Father forgive me for being me. Deliver me from my spiritual blindness and from whatever enslaves me, in Jesus name I pray, Amen.

 

Mark Twain wrote, “You cannot depend on your eyes when your imagination is out of focus. I would go further and say “you cannot depend on your eyes when your spiritual eyes are out of focus.”

I started thinking about this post while lying in bed. The question, are we what we believe or how we believe was on my mind and I decided to research the question on the internet. I know who we are in Christ and will speak about my belief later in this post. CNN did a study on the topic, we are what we believe. There are close to 8 billion on earth and according to CNN nothing distinguishes us more then what we believe. Here is the link address.

They have had over 600 responses and some of them I found to be extremly enlightening and others raised further questions. Many strengthened my faith and some led me to prayer.

There are quotes from atheists, a Buddhist, Faithful Christians, a Humanist, a Wiccan believer, Ifa (Yoruba religion), a Norse Pagan, a Hindu, a Multi-Faith believer plus many more. CNN concluded, for many who responded, that it doesn’t matter what we believe but how we react to what we believe.

Below are a few selected bible verses or us to consider for further study.

James 2:19- You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that–and shudder.

John20:31- but these have been written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name.

John 20:29- Jesus said to him, “Because you have seen Me, have you believed? Blessed are they who did not see, and yet believed.”

1 John 3:23- This is His commandment, that we believe in the name of His Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, just as He commanded us

John 14:1- “Do not let your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me. (Jesus)

Romans 10:9- that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved;

John 3:36- “He who believes in the Son has eternal life; but he who does not obey the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.”

John 3:16-  For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

I am a Born Again Christian and I believe that I have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, My sins have been forgiven and it is my desire to live a life that is acceptable to God. I may not do it perfectly but I trust In the faithfulness of God. I believe in Jesus.

This is one of my favorite scripture verses.

^John1:14 The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.

We have a physical earthly citizenship and a Heavenly citizenship. There are many who are citizens of more then one country. I am a citizen of Canada because that is the country of my birth. My Canadian birthright affords me access to all that the Government of Canada  offers to it’s citizens.

My Heavenly citizenship gives me access to all that heaven offers to it’s citizens.

Phillipians 3:20- But we are citizens of heaven, where the Lord Jesus Christ lives. And we are eagerly waiting for him to return as our Savior.

Vance Haver wrote, “If you are a Christian, you are not a citizen of this world trying to get to heaven:; you are a citizen of heaven trying to live in this world.”

Verses from the bible that speak of our heavenly citizenship.

Hebrews 13:14

For here we do not have a lasting city, but we are seeking the city which is to come.

Luke 22:29-30

and just as My Father has granted Me a kingdom, I grant you that you may eat and drink at My table in My kingdom, and you will sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.

John 14;2

“In My Father’s house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you.

1 Peter 1:4

to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you,

Revelation 21:2

And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, made ready as a bride adorned for her husband.

Revelation 21:27

and nothing unclean, and no one who practices abomination and lying, shall ever come into it, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life.

Revelation 22:3-5

There will no longer be any curse; and the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and His bond-servants will serve Him; they will see His face, and His name will be on their foreheads. And there will no longer be any night; and they will not have need of the light of a lamp nor the light of the sun, because the Lord God will illumine them; and they will reign forever and ever.

Ephesians 2:19

So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints, and are of God’s household,

One of my favorite songs about our heavenly home

My Father is rich in houses and lands,
He hold’th the wealth of the world in His hands!
Of rubies and diamonds, of silver and gold,
His coffers are full, He has riches untold.

I’m a child of the King,
A child of the King:
With Jesus my Savior,
 I’m a child of the King.

My Father’s own Son, the Savior of men,
Once wandered on earth as the poorest of them.
But now He is pleading our pardon on high,
That we may be His when He comes by and by

I once was an out-cast stranger on earth,
A sinner by choice, and an alien by birth;
But I’ve been adopted, my name’s written down,
An heir of salvation, the kingdom and crown.

Though poor on this earth, oh, why should I care?
Since glorious things for me God doth prepare;
Though trials abound, yet, still I may sing:
All glory to God, I’m a child of the King.

Author: Hattie E Buell

 

It all began with, In The Beginning God Created..this is where the foundation for our living a God loving and a God fearing life begins. Until we accept the fact that God created all things we will not truly understand life and the fact that God owns everything.

The Beginning

Genesis 1-1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. ² Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters.

The following are links to sermons and devotionals on “In The Beginning God”

The Beginning Rev. Dr. James D. Kegel

“In the Beginning”: The Most Important Verse in the Bible

Luke 8:11-15 New International Version (NIV)

^{There is plenty of Grace available to deal with any and every circumstance that  we face  from day to day and moment by moment.. God’s Grace Dispensary.}

¹ “This is the meaning of the parable: The seed is the word of God. ¹² Those along the path are the ones who hear, and then the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts, so that they may not believe and be saved. ¹³ Those on the rocky ground are the ones who receive the word with joy when they hear it, but they have no root. They believe for a while, but in the time of testing they fall away. ¹⁴ The seed that fell among thorns stands for those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by life’s worries, riches and pleasures, and they do not mature. ¹⁵ But the seed on good soil stands for those with a noble and good heart, who hear the word, retain it, and by persevering produce a crop.

Amazing grace

Abundant grace

Grace in motion

Enduring grace

Infused grace

Saving grace

Sanctifying Grace

Forgiving grace

I have been immensely blessed by Paul David Tripp’s devotional book, New Morning Mercies. So much so, that I have given away 20 of those books to other men. There are seven to eight of us men who meet together for prayer, on Sunday mornings at 7:00am. I gave each of them a book as well as one to give to another man.

I gave one to a Pastor and he has since ordered ten additional books.

God has blessed me and I’m thankful.

I have no financial relationship with the author and I receive no financial compensation for endorsing this devotional. I ordered them through Amazon.

I received my copy, about a year ago, from a friend in Ontario. He had it forwarded to my home address in Newfoundland.

One verse of scriptures summarizes the content of this devotional book.

2 Peter 3:18 But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen.

Blessings

Steve

This morning I was reading from my devotional book by, Paul David Tripp, “New Morning Mercies: and he spoke about formfitted grace. I decided to do a further study in Google and queried, what is formfitted grace? The results were not what I expected. The search came back with fitted clothing responses and a lady by the name of Grace. I tried formfitted and received a somewhat similar response.

I have to do further research, however; I know what he is talking about. God gives us grace to deal with every situation in life. He is aware of the minutest circumstance in my day to day living and because I am His child, he gives me grace to meet it head on and deal with it from His point of view. This is a heavenly perspective.

The scripture verses were.Hebrews 4

Hebrews 4:14-16 New International Version (NIV)

Jesus the Great High Priest

14 Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has ascended into heaven,[a] Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. 15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin. 16 Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.

One of my mentors and friends said that we have a “Grace Factory.” A Grace Factory in Heaven. I have to try to get my head around that thought but I know exactly what he means. Jesus, dispenses grace individually to us his children. I guess I would call it a grace dispensary as He supplies specialized grace for individualized needs.

This is a post that I’m working on. Please feel free to comment.: