Open the Eyes of My Heart…

August 14, 2008

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The challenge? Consider one of your children’s favorite songs and look, really look at the lyrics. Why does this resonate with my heart? Because music reaches us in places that other words, and interactions can’t. When I am lonely, hurt, depressed, or angry, just listening to the right song, or a favorite song, brings remembrance and familiarity. Music sings to the very core of our being.

Today, I would like to introduce my son Jacob’s favorite song. He had a hard time picking one, but I instinctively knew what it was. Jacob loves this worship song, and has for years. Jacob’s pick? Open the Eyes of My Heart Lord. He has no favorite version, or artist rendition, just the lyrics sing to him.

Open the eyes of my heart, Lord
Open the eyes of my heart
I want to see You
I want to see You

To see You high and lifted up
Shinin’ in the light of Your glory
Pour out Your power and love
As we sing holy, holy, holy

Holy, holy, holy
We cry holy, holy, holy
You are holy, holy, holy
I want to see you

A few years ago, Jacob accepted Christ and this is one of the songs he learned. The song truly speaks of his journey with Christ. Today is his birthday, and while he is only turning 11 years old, Jacob is on a journey for Jesus. He writes incredible sermons, stories, poems, that stir your heart. Just the other day in a school assignment, Jacob wrote about the book of Revelation.

Now letting all things be true, I will be honest with you in sharing that this is one book of the Bible that I do not spend a lot of time in. Partially because I don’t fully understand it, but more because I am not ready for it. I suppose it’s my own selfishness stating that I want to see my kids grow. I want to see them step out into this thing called life and be successful at it. To have their own families and the realization of their own dreams.

Jacob on the other hand told me point blank that it is his favorite book of the Bible. Filled with mysticism and wonder -things that any child should be drawn to. He said it was better than any comic or cartoon around, and it was also of God.

Jacob couldn’t believe that I disliked the book.

Through recounting that story, I begin to understand why Jesus said,

Truly I say to you, unless you repent (change, turn about) and become like little children [trusting, lowly, loving, forgiving], you can never enter the kingdom of heaven [at all]. - Matthew 18:3 (AMP)

See, Jacob, children accept God for who He is at face value. They don’t question Him but seek Him with joy and wonder. Jacob wants God to open his eyes to things he hasn’t seen or understood yet. He wants to drink in all of Jesus that He can, and at the same time, he understands God’s authority over him.

Maybe it’s because children are in that same place with their parents, teachers, etc. They are in a position of learning and submitting. Maybe I need to come to the Kingdom of God more like a child, being humble and understanding that God wants to teach me so I can succeed and realize His plans for me.

Take time today to enjoy your kids and watch them wonder at the things of this world. Ask them about their favorite Bible story or character and why? Take time to see the Kingdom through the eyes of a child, and be amazed at the glories of God.

I would love to hear what inspired you today…please share as you enter into this journey.

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