The Inner Eye

 

‘I’m not much good at imagining how that little swatch of fabric will look spread all over a reupholstered chair,’ I said to Mo, who we’ve turned to for help in re-covering some old furniture.

My mom always knew exactly what sort of lamp she wanted for one of the corners of her living room, and she waited until she found it. I never know what I want until there’s a lamp there, for instance, and then I know if I like it or not.

I’d love to have a creative inner eye.

Yesterday, riding in a bus up to the Braemar Gathering, I daydreamed out the window. I’m made in God’s image: the creator God. The One who created everything out of nothing. I’m made in his image. I must have some imaginative creativity inside me … I’d love to be able to see what’s not there, as if it were.

So I prayed. Lord, help me to see what is not there. Help me to imagine how that chair will look covered in those various swatches of fabric we have chosen to consider.

We snaked our way through the purple heathers of Scotland in September, approaching Braemar, and suddenly I found myself expanding that prayer to life events – globally, individually.

Lord, help me to see what is not visible to the human eye. Help me to see what is really going on. In 2 Kings, Elisha’s servant was terrified as they were surrounded by a hostile army. Elisha asked God to open his servant’s spiritual, inner eyes. His servant then saw what Elisha did – that they were protected by God-sent horses and chariots of fire.

Lord, in these days of deep fakes, of lies from the mouths of leaders, may I discern what is really going on. Show me your power, Lord, and give me a vision of the truth.

May none of your sincere followers be duped by the enemy. May we live with eyes wide open to the truth of who you are and what you are doing in these days.