Our encounter with the physical world around us takes place through our five senses. We learn in school about our physical senses; seeing, hearing, smelling, tasting and touching. But did you realize that the very same way that God created our earth suits with these senses to allow us to be conscious of this world, he also created these senses to operate in the spiritual realm so that we can be aware of him and his movement in our lives? Jesus modeled this for us when he walked the earth.
Therefore Jesus answered and was saying to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, unless it is something He sees the Father doing; for whatever the Father does, these things the Son also does in the same way” (John 5:19, NASB).
All throughout the Bible, we are given verses that encourage us to encounter God and the spirit realm through experiential encounter. In fact that is the Hebrew understanding of learning. First hand, intimate, experiential encounter is the way the Jewish people walked with God. The Greek mindset was rational thought and cognition. The Hebrew children learned to observe and think, while the sons of Greece only learned what they were taught by their teachers and to do what they were told.
There is an incredible story we find in 2 Kings 6 about the prophet Elisha and his servant. The King of Aram was at war with Israel and he sent men to capture the prophet Elisha when he was in the city of Dothan. Elisha’s servant saw the army of horses and chariots that had surrounded the city and asked Elisha what they needed to do.
“Don’t be afraid,” the prophet answered. “Those who are with us are more than those who are with them.” And Elisha prayed, “O Lord, open his eyes so he may see.” Then the Lord opened the servant’s eyes, and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha (vs.16-17, NIV).
The prayer of Elisha reminds me of a similar prayer that Paul prayed for believers in the New Testament, in Ephesians 1:18. He prayed that the eyes of our hearts would be enlightened so that we would know all that the Father has for those who have accepted the gift of spiritual life that Jesus has purchased for us by laying down his own. We may not be physically blind, but there are many who are walking around blind to the spiritual world around us. As we gather this weekend with friends and family to remember the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus Christ, I encourage you to invite God to “open the eyes of your heart” so that you can begin to live with spiritual sight and like Jesus see what the Father is doing in your life out of his deep love for you.
Father God, thank you for loving me and wanting me to not just know about you, but making a way for me to experience you relationally through encounter. Like Jesus, I want to see what you are doing, so that I can walk out this life as a friend. I confess there have been times throughout my life, that I have set things before my eyes that haven’t been good for me. Would you cleanse my sight and heal my spiritual eyes so that I can know you better? In Jesus’ name.
Steps in Pursuit
- Study stories in the Bible in which people saw spiritual visions. Allow yourself to picture those spiritual realities in your imagination. This is part of meditation and allowing your spirit to encounter.
- Use scripture as a doorway to step back into and allow God to bring it to life around you as He enlightens the eyes of your heart.
- Practice for a few minutes each day, sitting still with God and asking him to show you what he is doing in your life. Journal what you are seeing and prayerfully ask what your part is as you walk this out with him.
I want to invite you to join me for a class on April 16 called Spiritual Discernment, Sharpening Spiritual Senses. This will be a great opportunity for you to learn some tools and practice with others who are growing like you!
Continue the Pursuit,
Denise
