Jesus asked, “Do you see anything?” He looked up and said, “I see people; they look like trees walking around.” Once more Jesus put his hands on the man’s eyes. Then his eyes were opened, his sight was restored, and he saw everything clearly. Mark 8:23-25
Dear Jesus, what I see most clearly is myself in this story. I often see people other than they truly are—and I see them worse than “trees walking around.” I also look at this crazy, broken world with the shortsightedness of unbelief, the astigmatism of fear, and heart-cataracts of selfishness. Heal me Jesus.
First and foremost, I want to see you, Jesus—more of your truth, goodness, and beauty. For the better I see you, I’ll look at everything and everyone else through the corrective lens of the Gospel.
Like Abraham (Heb.11:10), I want a 20/15 vision of our ultimate home—our eternal abode you call “the new heaven and new earth” (Rev.21:1-5). Indeed, show me more of the “better-by-far-ness” of heaven so I will serve you with more joy, love, and hope till the Day you return.
Jesus, help me see, acknowledge, and love tears more—mine and the tears of others. Some things can only be accurately seen through the lens of our heart-water. You honor our tears enough to bottle them, so we shouldn’t be in a hurry to either dismiss or despise them.
Help me see my family, friends, and strangers in new and redemptive ways. Your image is in all of us. Your heart is for each of us. Your hand continues to write stories with the ink of grace, a steady hand, by the timeline of heaven. Hallelujah, thank you, and So Very Amen.
