How Well Can You See?

Have you been groping for the tiniest glimpse of God's swiftly fading form? You can see Him through the eyes of prayer.

Do you remember the story of the Syrian army surrounding Dothan to attack the Prophet Elisha? His servant was terrified and asked, "What shall we do?"

"Don't be afraid," the prophet replied. "Those who are with us are greater than those who are with them." Then Elisha prayed, "O LORD, open his eyes so he may see." The LORD then opened the servant's eyes, and he saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire. Do we see the mighty hand of God around us?

In the early part of Matthew 14, Jesus fed a multitude with a little boy's lunch. Then before anyone had time to stretch out for a nap, He sent His disciples out across the Sea of Galilee. Dismissing the crowd Jesus went up the mountain to pray. Jesus prayed for the rest of the afternoon and long into the night. He had just done an outstanding miracle. Everyone was basking in His success. But Jesus did not forget His Father, even for a short rest. He went to rest in His father's arms.

Philippians 2:5-8 says Jesus took on human weaknesses. How then did He do such wonderful miracles? The only explanation I can see in the gospels is His fervent prayer life. Jesus prayed long and fervently at every turn.

Jesus saw with His Father's eyes.

In John 14:12 Jesus said we would do even greater works than He. Wow! Greater even than Jesus! Can you see that happening in your life? Many have sought the key to supernatural power. And I must say I don't have the complete answer to that question, at least in personal experience. But as a student of the Word, I can see that the kind of power which flowed from Jesus is directly related to seeing the face of God in prayer.

In Experiencing God Henry Blackaby makes a powerful connection to seeing God at work in our circumstances and then joining Him. Jesus himself said, in John 5:19, that the Son can only do what He sees His Father doing. To do this, we need supernatural eyesight.

Continuing our story from Matthew 14 and also Mark 6, Jesus comes to the disciples walking on water. How does walking on the sea relate to seeing what His Father was doing? Mark 6:48 says Jesus "saw" the disciples straining against the oars because the wind was against them. I don't think Jesus used superhuman night vision to see His disciples out on the sea. Rather, I believe this is an example of Jesus spending enough time in prayer that He saw with His Father's eyes.

How you see

will make all the

difference in your life.

This much we know for sure, Jesus saw His disciples in the storm while He was on the mountain praying. And it must have been in prayer that He saw His Father's plan to help the disciples believe. Jesus came to them, walking on the water, because in prayer He saw His Father's work in prayer. Might God show us something just as spectacular? I do not know why He would not. But we will never see it by spending hours in front of the television.

The disciples were still quite "worldly," therefore they saw Jesus walking on the water with worldly eyes. "It's a ghost," they cried. But Jesus called back to them, "Don't be afraid, it is I." The Greek words in Matthew 14:27 are "e&gw ei&mi," which literally translate, "I am." These are the very words the Lord spoke to Moses at the burning bush. Jesus often declared His deity with these words. He used them to say, "I am the bread of life," "I am the door," "I am the way the truth and the life," "Before Abraham was I am."

Of course, in one sense this was Jesus declaring His divine sufficiency to the disciples who were flailing in the storm. But above all, I believe, He was declaring his reality. He was not a ghost then, and He is real today as well. Can you imagine the moment of Peter's recognition? He cries, "Lord, if it is really you, call me to come to you on the water." Jesus gave a one-word answer; "Come." Can you hear Him calling to you with the same challenge of faith, "Come." Will you come to Him in prayer, in faith, in obedience?

Without hesitation Peter climbed out of the boat and walked on the water. Do you believe you could you walk on water? You can, if Jesus calls you to do that. And who are we to say He will not? Would you be willing like Peter, invite such a call? Are you open to whatever our Lord may decide to do in your life?

Peter walked on the water, but he did not walk very far. He saw the lightning flash, the wind whipping the sea and the waves swelling higher than the mast. He was afraid and began to sink.

This reminds me of one of the humorous ads that Volkswagon ran in the late 1960s. A magazine showed a picture of a Volkswagon beetle sitting a little skewed on the surface of a lake. The caption read, "A Volkswagon will float. . . ." The next page pictured the beetle sinking. Its caption read, "but not for very long."

Peter had stopped looking at the Lord. He was again looking from a faithless and worldly perspective. But in the crisis he looked back to Jesus. "Lord, save me!" I think this is my favorite part of the story. Jesus reached out and caught Peter in His arms. Although He rebuked Peter's failing faith, Jesus did not let him drown. I often remember that when I consider stepping out on faith. I can trust the Lord to catch me, even if my faith fails.

We sometimes sing this chorus:

Open our eyes, Lord.We want to see Jesus,To reach out and touch Him,And say that we love Him.

Do you hunger to see with God's eyes? If so, the next question is "How much time are you willing to devote to one-on-one fellowship with God?" Are you looking into His face in prayer? How you see will make all the difference in your life.