Open Our Eyes

"Then he sent horses and chariots and a strong force there.  They went by night and surrounded the city.  When the servant of the man of God got up and went out early the next morning, an army with horses and chariots had surrounded the city.  'Oh, my lord, what shall we do?' the servant asked.  '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."  2 Kings 6:14-17


Have you ever felt surrounded?  Out numbered?  Scared out of your wits?  Crippled with worry?  Alone?  Wouldn't you love to have your eyes opened to all that's going on around you in the spiritual realm?  Look with eyes of faith.  God has "commanded his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways."  There is an enemy of your soul that doesn't want you to know that.  What could you do if you really knew that God had your back?  It doesn't mean you'll never have trouble.  Jesus said "in this world you will have trouble."  Not, "you might" have trouble or "you could" have trouble, but "you will."  But, for the one that fears the Lord, there is no need to fear anything else.  "'Because he loves me,'" says the Lord, 'I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name.  He will call upon me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him.'"  I hope that gives you peace.  I hope it gives you security.  I hope it gives you boldness.

Maybe in this physical world, you are a pacifist...a lover, not a fighter.  But, make no mistake, we are in a spiritual battle with a vicious enemy that wants to devour us...destroy us, make us ineffective, cripple us.  His weapons are fear, insecurity, bitterness, discontent and hopelessness.  So, "be self controlled and alert.  Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour." 1 Peter 5:8.  He is evil.  That should make you angry.  That should make you want to fight...for yourself, for your marriage, for your kids.  It should make you angry, but not discouraged.

Sometimes, especially in our American culture, we are so numb and unaware of what is going on around us.  We are like the king in the Lord of the Rings trilogy.  I don't know his name, because I can't remember details like that...but Mark would know.  You know the one who is completely glazed over and just kind of going with whatever he's told.  Don't you want to slap him?  Don't you want to shake him and say, "wake up!  Get in the game!  The stakes are too high!!"  Well, if you feel like him...if you have no vision or purpose for your life, if you're just living the way our culture tells us we're supposed to live, consider yourself slapped!  You have nothing to fear.  Start living the life God intended you to live.  Not one of fear or complacency or meaninglessness.  But, a life full of joy and purpose.  Get in the game!  The stakes are too high!  And, do not be afraid.  "For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline."  2 Timothy 1:7  So get out there and LIVE like the very spirit of the creator of the universe dwells inside you, because it does.  Angels are camped around you right now, ready to battle on your behalf.  If that doesn't excite you, I don't know what will.

I am praying that God will open our eyes to spiritual battles raging all around us and give us the courage to get in there and fight...because the victory is already ours!  I think that deserves a hallelujah.