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Written by Jeana Poole, volunteer with Iron Rose Sister Ministries in Colorado
“I can see really good because of my far away eyes,” my four-year-old told me.
“Your what?” I asked.
“My far away eyes. It means I can see through things to spot something I need to see.”
‘Far away eyes’ have become a sort of running joke in our family, but something about that phrase has always struck me as deeply theological. To see through things to spot something we need to see. Isn’t that what we’re called to do as Christians?
We’re told in 2 Corinthians 4:18 that “we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal” (ESV). It’s all too easy to focus on the things we can see. They’re right in front of us!! But we are told to do the harder thing, to look at the unseen things.
Take the story of Elisha and his servant in 2 Kings 6:8-17 as an example. Syria (Aram) is getting ready to go to war with Israel, but Elisha keeps warning the Israelite king about which way to go so that the Syrians (Arameans) can’t attack. The Syrian king is troubled by this and decides he needs to capture Elisha, so he sends horses, chariots, and a great army to surround the city where Elisha is staying. Elisha’s servant wakes up, sees this great multitude and, to put it mildly, freaks out. Elisha tells him,
“Do not be afraid, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them.” Then Elisha prayed and said, “O LORD, please open his eyes that he may see.” So the LORD opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw, and behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.” (2 Kings 6:16-17, ESV)
The servant wasn’t using his far away eyes. He was so focused on what was in front of him, that he couldn’t see what God was doing around him. I wonder how many of us are like the servant, too focused on whatever the enemy is doing in front of us and forget to open our eyes to what God is doing around us.
As we close out 2021, I challenge us to use our ‘far away eyes’ going into 2022. Let us focus our vision on the unseen things. Let us ask our Father to open our eyes to what is around us, to see through whatever obstacles are in our way.
Where will your far away eyes take you in 2022?
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Written by Jocelynn Goff, volunteer with Iron Rose Sister Ministries in Arkansas (and mother of Michelle J. Goff, founder)
Did you know there actually was a “Year of Vision”? Yep, you guessed it, 2020. Some of you may remember or have participated in a 2019 New Year’s Eve party with the theme of 20/20 Vision. There were all kinds of phrases, jokes, even costume glasses made into the shape of 2020. It was going to be a great year. Afterall, 20/20 is what we have traditionally considered perfect vision. However, COVID happened and that perspective was silenced. It became the year we all wished would hurry up and go away quickly, so that we could get back to normal, or at least our definition of normal. We really wanted the year 2020 to be in our rearview mirror.
The year 2020 is truly behind us now. But, where are we now as a nation, a congregation, a family, or, looking closer to home, where am I?
For me, 2021 has been a most challenging year. The most recent challenge has been an additional health issue. The quivering feeling of my heart out of rhythm seemed to call me to worry and become anxious. It threatened to consume me. I knew I needed to recognize that something was wrong and seek medical help. However, I was also seeking the appropriate response to the anxiousness and not let it run away with my mind, even as my heart needed medical attention.
I prayed for calm and the appropriate perspective. Then, as I contemplated thoughts for this blog on Redefined Vision, the song, Be Thou my Vision, came to mind.
Be Thou My Vision, O Lord of my heart
Naught be all else to me save that Thou art
Thou my best thought, by day or by night,
Waking or sleeping, Thy presence my light.
My focus or vision has had to intentionally refocus on the perspective of letting my Lord be the vision of my heart, even as it’s physically beating rapidly out of sync.
There have been other events in my life as teaching points of this concept. For instance, when I was pregnant with our first daughter, I took Lamaze classes and was introduced to the helpfulness of a focal point and relaxed breathing. These were important for me in managing pain while in labor. I chose a birth announcement card as my focal point. I practiced multiple times prior to labor, using that focal point. Then during labor, I could picture my focal point, even if I had my eyes closed. I can still picture this focal point when I’m in other painful situations.
Spiritually, the application of this principle is not new.
Fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before Him He endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. (Heb. 12:2)
He is our focal point. We fix our vision on Him and let Him lead by example to have joy in endurance and rest at the throne of God.
Another aspect of the Lamaze method was learning relaxed breathing patterns for each stage of labor.
Spiritually, the relaxed breathing is a reminder of Who’s in control. A friend taught me this concept years ago, “Breathe out self. Breathe in Jesus.” It’s a part of letting go of the notion that I am the one sitting on the throne, and then allowing His breath to fill me.
Then he said to me, “Prophesy to these bones and say to them, ‘Dry bones hear the word of the LORD! This is what the Sovereign LORD says to these bones: I will make breath enter you and you will come to life. I will attach tendons to you and make flesh come upon you and cover you with skin; I will put breath in you, and you will come to life. Then you will know that I AM the LORD.” (Ezek. 37:4-6)
I think I can speak for all of us that we’d like to have the breath of the LORD in us and come to life like the dry bones.
In summary, not only as we do in January, when setting New Year’s Resolutions, but also throughout the year must define and redefine our vision to be fixed on Him so we can have joy, endurance, and be filled with life from the I AM.
Blessings and Happy New Year.