It’s a peculiar piece of our sin-sick brokenness, that we weary of wonderful things. We grow bored with hobbies we once found exciting, our children ignore toys they once shrieked with excitement to receive. We have an ever-present longing to experience new things and visit new places. We love our homes and children, but spending another day in routine instruction and housekeeping sounds dreary at times.
Unfortunately this sin-sick weariness of wonderful things affects our relationship with God’s Word too. Some passages we seem to have heard a thousand times. Sometimes I suddenly realize how long it’s been since I’ve sat down with my Bible and I wonder, “How did that happen?” and then guilt follows. That whole time wisdom, grace, instruction, hope, and so many things were sitting quietly, just waiting. And so I open my Bible and I reach for yet another wonderful, well-worn thing – prayer. And this prayer is extra well-worn for me, “Open my eyes that I may see wonderful things in your law” (Psalm 119:18 NIV).
It’s embarrassing to admit, especially given my role in ministry, that I struggle with spiritual sluggishness. I go dry when it’s completely unnecessary. But I’m invited to ask, “God, won’t You give me the grace of fresh eyes?” The Word is always fresh, but my mind? My perspective? Not so much. Thankfully not only is the deep well of God’s Word always available, so is grace and strength to draw up the bucket and drink deeply. Water gives strength, washes away impurities, and refreshes, and the Word does all that and so much more.
Charles Spurgeon echoes this from the perspective of food instead of water, “In matters of grace you need a daily supply. You have no store of strength. Day by day must you seek help from above. It is a very sweet assurance that a daily portion is provided for you… Never go hungry while the daily bread of grace is on the table of mercy.”
When I realize I’ve been stumbling around hungry and thirsty for no reason at all, it takes humble repentance to sit and open my Bible and confess my broken ways, and then ask for fresh eyes to see God’s Word. But this prayer has never gone unanswered, and God has been faithful to drop fresh bread like manna in the desert, over and over and over again despite my propensity to wander in the desert. In Spurgeon’s words again, “When you open the window on your side, it will not be bolted on the other.”
This simple prayer, “Open my eyes that I may see,” is how I break free from spiritual sluggishness to spiritual sensitivity. The wonderful things are there, I just need the eyes to see them.
Taking It Further:
What practices help you approach God’s Word with fresh eyes?
Thanks for your honesty, Sarah. We’ve all been at that place of feeling dry spiritually. I have never forgotten something that Oswald Chambers talked about in the classic devotional “My Utmost for His Highest”. He says that the Word can’t be opened up to us if we aren’t obeying and vice versa. When I obey what God is asking of me for this moment and time, then the Word comes alive again. I’ve found that to be so true.