Let's first take a moment to listen to God's word and then we'll pray together.
In the Bible, Acts chapter 9 verse 18 says, "And immediately something like scales fell from his eyes and he regained his sight. Then he rose and was baptized."
The story of the Apostle Paul is one of the clearest demonstrations of God's power to change a life.
Before this moment, Paul was known for his zeal in persecuting the early church.
He was respected among Jewish leaders, a man of influence, well educated in the law, and passionate in his cause. But his cause was tragically misplaced. Believing he was defending the truth, he ordered the arrest, suffering, and even the death of Christians.
He thought he saw clearly. In reality, he was blind.
Then on the road to Damascus, everything changed. Jesus, the risen Lord, interrupted his mission. A light from heaven shone around him and he fell to the ground. A voice called out, "Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?" In that moment, his world was turned upside down. The very Jesus he rejected was standing before him in glory.
And suddenly, the man who thought he had perfect vision was struck blind. For three days, he lived in darkness until the Lord sent Ananas to pray for him. Then in one of the most powerful moments of the New Testament, the Bible says something like scales fell from his eyes and Saul became Paul.
His physical sight returned, but far more importantly, his spiritual sight was opened.
That moment illustrates what happens when God touches a life.
The world itself doesn't change, but the way we see it does.
Before meeting Christ, Paul saw the gospel as foolishness, a threat, something to be silenced.
But when his eyes were opened, he saw it as the most glorious truth worth living for and even dying for.
Psalm 146:8 declares, "The Lord opens the eyes of the blind. The Lord lifts up those who are bowed down. The Lord loves the righteous." That is exactly what God did for Paul. And it is what he still does today. Because the greatest miracle is not always in circumstances changing, but in vision being restored.
God wants to remove the scales from your eyes too so that you can see him more clearly. See yourself more truthfully and see life through the lens of eternity.
And yet here is the mystery of human sight.
Two people can look at the same thing, hear the same truth, and walk away with completely different conclusions.
We even see this in the church.
Some may treat scripture as optional, others as essential.
Some see the commands of Christ as burdens, others as treasures.
Some see the cross as weakness. But for those whose eyes are opened, it is the power of God.
This is why Psalm 119:8 is such a powerful prayer. "Open my eyes that I may behold wondrous things out of your law."
When God opens our eyes, everything changes.
What once seemed normal suddenly appears for what it truly is, destructive and hollow.
And what once seemed unattractive becomes beautiful.
This is what happened to Paul.
And it's what happens to anyone who truly encounters Christ.
But the truth is, many still cannot see.
The world scoffs at faith, not always because people consciously choose evil, but because they are blind to the light.
1 Corinthians 1:18 explains, "For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved, it is the power of God."
That's why you can share the gospel with one person and their heart bursts with hope while another hears the same words and shrugs in disbelief.
The difference is not in the message. It is in the vision.
When the scales are still there, the cross looks foolish.
But when God removes them, the cross shines as salvation.
This is why a true vision of God doesn't come from our own wisdom or intellect.
It is a gift of grace.
Paul himself would later write in Ephesians 4: verses 4-6, "There is one body and one spirit. Just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through al and in all."
When your eyes are opened, you see this truth that there is only one gospel, one Lord, one Savior.
Christianity of Christ becomes ilmore than a label, more than an iyyutradition, more than a necklace symbol around your neck. But 'Christianity of men' sells merchandise , indulgence or relic.
It becomes your very life.
And so Paul's story is not just history.
It reminds you that no matter how far you've gone, no matter how blind you've been, no matter how wrong your path has felt, Jesus can step into your journey and open your eyes.
He can change the way you see everything, your past, your present, and your future.
Perhaps right now you feel like you're stumbling in darkness, confused, uncertain, weighed down by fear, sin, or disappointment.
Maybe you're looking at your life and you can't make sense of it. This is the moment to pray the same prayer as the psalmist.
Lord, open my eyes.
Because when he does, you'll see that you are not forsaken.
You'll see that his grace is greater than your sin. You'll see that his plans are better than your fears.
You'll see that even the storms in your life can become the rain that grows your faith. So don't settle for blurred vision. Don't be content with half light.
Ask God to remove the scales just as he did for Paul.
Ask him to show you the beauty of his word, the urgency of his gospel, and the wonder of his presence.
Because when your eyes are opened, life will never look the same again. And like Paul, you'l discover that true sight isn't about seeing the world as it is, but about seeing Jesus as he truly is.
Now, let's take a moment to pray together.
Our Heavenly Father, thank you for giving me the gift of sight, especially the ability to see and appreciate the beauty of the gospel.
Thank you for allowing me to recognize the wonder of your grace.
Lord, I am humbled that you chose to open my eyes when l could not open them on my own.
You have removed the scales that once blinded me, and now I can see glimpses of your glory, your love, and your faithfulness.
Indeed, I once was lost, but now l am found. I once was blind, but now I see.
I cannot take credit for this change because it was your spirit who brought light into my darkness. It is only by your mercy that I can recognize goodness, truth, and salvation.
Father, only you see this world in perfect clarity.
Only you can discern right from wrong with perfect judgment because you are holy and without error.
Lord Jesus, open my eyes wider still.
Give me wisdom when l am tempted to focus on the wrong things.
Forgive me for when I waste energy on what does not matter, when I quarrel over trivial matters, or when l allow my heart to be consumed with distractions.
Teach me to see the greater picture.
Teach me to set my eyes not on what is fleeting, but on what is eternal. Your word tells me in 2 Corinthians 4:8, "So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal." So Lord, shift my vision away from the temporary to the eternal.
Lift my eyes to the glorious truth of Jesus Christ.
The gospel in which there is no compromise, no distortion, no misinterpretation.
As scripture reminds us, there is only one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus.
Let that truth anchor me and let it silence every false voice that tries to confuse me.
Father, you are all powerful and all knowing.
You see every dimension, every moment, every hidden thought.
While l see only in part, you see the whole.
You see the past, the present, and the future all at once.
So Lord, help me not to question what you have spoken as truth.
Let me not allow doubts to cloud my vision or fears to darken my faith.
Help me to cling to your word when everything else seems uncertain.
Remove the scales from my eyes daily.
Lord, let me not be deceived by my own desires or blinded by my own biases.
I pray that my world view will be shaped not by culture, opinion, or emotion, but by the truth of scripture.
Teach me to walk by faith and not by sight, and to measure everything I see against the light of your word.
Father, grant me discernment. Give me spiritual sight to recognize those who are wolves in sheep's clothing. Some may appear trustworthy, gentle, and even godly on the outside, but their hearts are filled with deception.
As your word warns, even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light.
So Lord, don't let me fall for empty words or flattering tongues.
Expose deception for what it is and give me the courage to cling to the truth even when lies sound more appealing.
Temptation is strong, Lord, but you are stronger.
Help me to fasten tightly the belt of truth so that no lie of the enemy finds a home in my heart.
Teach me to take up the shield of faith, the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the spirit, which is your word.
Open my eyes to see that my true battles are not against flesh and blood, but against spiritual forces of darkness. Let me fight on my knees in prayer with confidence in your power.
God, open my eyes to see sin for what it truly is.
Not something small or harmless, but an abomination that separates me from you.
Make the gospel more beautiful in my sight than any temptation this world could offer.
Help me to see holiness as life giving and sin as destructive.
As your word says in Psalm 119 verse 105, "Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path."
So light my path, Lord. Clear my vision, guide my steps, rid me of my own lenses, my own prejudices, and my own pride.
Teach me to see through your eyes, Father.
Just as Paul's life was changed on the road to Damascus, awaken my heart to love you more deeply. Open my eyes like you did for him. Help me to see the gospel not as an idea or a tradition, but as the very power of God. Let me live like someone whose eyes have been opened to testify of your goodness, someone who sees your hand in all things, someone who chooses Christ above all else.
Lord, open my eyes to see the hurting and the broken around me.
Help me not to walk past people without compassion.
Give me vision to notice those who are suffering in silence.
Let me see opportunities to serve, to love, to give, and to share the message of Christ with boldness.
Father, open my eyes to see myself as you see me.
Not through the lens of shame or failure, but through the blood of Jesus.
Teach me to see that l am redeemed, forgiven, chosen, and loved.
Help me to reject the lies of the enemy that try to distort my identity.
Let me see my worth and my calling clearly. Not because of who l am, but because of who you are.
Lord, open my eyes to see the victory that is already mine in Christ. Help me to remember that l am not fighting for victory, but from victory because Jesus has already overcome.
Even when the night feels long, let me see the dawn of hope rising in the distance.
Even when prayers seem unanswered, help me to see that you are still at work.
And so I pray today and every day, Lord, open my eyes. Let me see truth. Let me see Jesus.
Let me see eternity.
Let me see everything as you see it.
In Lord Jesus Christ holy and powerful name, I pray. Amen.
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