Casandra Martin

One of the first moves into The Jesus Resolution is learning to live with an awareness of God’s presence. It is the word learning that is the key. It is a process; a journey in which we train our eyes to see beyond the physical into a world that is far richer and grander than appears on the surface.

Of course, we cannot teach ourselves how to see God. This is part of the deep transformation He works inside of us. Our task is to recognize our need for new eyes and take that need to Him. We have to learn to pray Elisha’s prayer.

It was an ordinary morning. Doing chores, preparing for the day, the servant stepped out into the cool dawn. He didn’t know the forces of evil had been moving through the night. He looked around, and jumped back. The entire city was surrounded by horses and chariots demanding to be noticed and feared. Panic squeezed his heart, even as the desperate words raced out of his mouth. “What shall we do?”

Elisha’s response in 2 Kings 6:16-17 inspires me and challenges me. “’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.”

Same situation, different vision. Where the servant saw only the enemy, Elisha saw the power and faithfulness of God. I want to be like Elisha. I want to see God at work even in places where others only see darkness and feel fear. I want to experience the full impact of God’s goodness, regardless of where I stand.

Learning to be aware of God’s presence begins with asking God to open our eyes. That is my prayer for you today. I pray that God will open your eyes wide and help you see Him clearly.