Eyes to See (A New Year's Intention)
I admire artists for their observational abilities. They notice things the less visually talented tend to miss. Do you ever wonder what it is that you might not be seeing as you walk through life?
Luke 2:25-28 tells about a man with exceptional spiritual vision. The story goes like this:
Now there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon, who was righteous and devout. He was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was on him. It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord’s Messiah. Moved by the Spirit, he went into the temple courts. When the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what the custom of the Law required, Simeon took him in his arms and praised God . . .
How was it that Simeon knew? That he picked out the miracle hidden in plain sight? There must have been a crowd at the temple that day. But everyone else (except for Anna as well) walked right by the miracle, completely unaware.
I wonder how often I have walked by a gift from God and have completely missed it because I've been too preoccupied with my life? Where have I missed out on wonder, on joy, and on the miraculous simply because I wasn't looking?
I want to be like Simeon, don't you? By faith he continued to look for the fulfillment of God's promise. By faith he trusted the Holy Spirit's guidance. By faith he was privileged to recognize the Messiah.
This new year, I resolve to look for and gratefully appreciate the many gifts that God hides in plain view. The simple things—like hiking with a friend, sharing a funny comic strip with my husband, or singing hymns with my mom over the phone.
I want to do better at focusing on what God is doing rather than on what the world is doing. Like Simeon, I want to see with my heart.
Psalm 25:14 says that "The Lord confides in those who fear him . . . " I wonder what the Lord wants to reveal in 2021?
New Year's Prayer: Lord, open our eyes to the wonder of all you are doing in and around us.