Ephesians 1:18 The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints,

Do we only want to see what we want to see and in doing that fail to see what the Lord is showing us?

Scriptures tell us what to look for in our enlightened vision. Do we understand that or do we only look to our own interests?

Psalm 37:4 Delight thyself also in the Lord: and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.

We want the desires of our hearts and ignore the opening of our eyes in taking delight in the Lord. We treat the Lord like a “Where’s Waldo” picture, hunting all over trying to find his image in a frantic hunt. Not so with God, He tells you where to look and what to look for.

Or do we seek the Lord in the same way we shop for a car. Too costly, too small, wrong color, doesn’t have all the bells and whistles, and with that keep looking until we find exactly what we want.

John 5:39 Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.

Psalm 17:15 As for me, I will behold thy face in righteousness: I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with thy likeness.

The Word is transformative, to make us like Him and not what we would choose to become. We failed in that before we knew the Lord, so why would continue that kind of thinking?

1 Peter 5:8a Be sober

Last night as I showed up to our alternative church meeting a dear friend thought that my greeting was joyless. He is forever trying to get me to smile. In defense of my “tude” I quoted the scripture above and answered, “I’m as sober as it gets.”

Later in the meeting I found myself laughing uncontrollably. A dear young lady who has a real love of God was having one of her moments of revelation about her relationship with our God. She was so honest and opened up herself to be seen as she truly is with Him.

The moment opened up an image for me of her with our heavenly Father and it filled my heart with so much joy and utter surprise that I could not control my joy.

This is a troubling time for me. I care about much that I see going on. That concern gives me something to pray about, bringing me into subjection to intercede for the saints, sinners, and future of us all. It is in all seriousness sobering work. There isn’t much joy in addressing such burdensome issues.

Psalm 89:15 Blessed is the people that know the joyful sound: they shall walk, O Lord, in the light of thy countenance.

Psalm 105:43 And he brought forth his people with joy, and his chosen with gladness:

Isaiah 65:19 And I will rejoice in Jerusalem, and joy in my people: and the voice of weeping shall be no more heard in her, nor the voice of crying.

Thanks be to God who brought me to the light of His countenance with such joy in this His daughter, whose heart is full of love, joy and light, and brought me out with sober joy.