Lift your eyes!
“Lift your eyes!” has been God’s word to me this week as I have had my daily radiotherapy. The sessions don’t hurt but it is weird, lying on your back, staring at the ceiling, knowing any stray cancer cells are being zapped but your body is taking a beating in the process.
“Lift your eyes!”
Last month, I walked in the Lakes, looking at that stupendous view and mulling on this verse, which has stayed with me,
“I lift my eyes to the mountains
– where does my help come from?
My help comes from the Lord,
the Maker of heaven and earth!”
Psalm 121
“Lift your eyes!”
Joshua lifted his eyes up and saw a man with a drawn sword. Understandably, Joshua asked “Are you for us or against us?” To which the answer was, “It is as the commander of the armies of the Lord I come!” Joshua fell facedown.
“Lift your eyes!”
The ceiling at the Marsden hospital has pretty pictures of berries and blossom - good for lifting eyes up! When I lift my eyes to see beyond that ceiling, I realise my little battle is framed within the Great Battle that the King of Kings came to earth to win.
“Lift your eyes!”
Isaiah says,” Lift up your eyes and look to the heavens: Who created all these?!” (Isaiah 40).
Downcast eyes drag us down but lifted eyes are enlightened with the hope that comes from seeing God’s incomparably great power for us who believe (Ephesians 1). This is the heart of my new book, “Ashes to Crowns” will be out in a couple of weeks - which is about how God comforts the bereaved and reframes how we see the future we lost to enable us to grieve with hope.
John tells us Jesus raised his eyes to heaven when he prayed. How much more must we lift the eyes of our hearts to see beyond material reality?
Elisha’s city was surrounded by an enemy army and his servant was terrified. Elisha prayed, “Open his eyes, Lord, so that he may see.” I love what came next because it’s what we need to see. The Lord opened the servant’s eyes, and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha” (2 Kings 6:17).
But there is even more to see…
Not only the power of God but also the love of God for us. Nicky and Sila Lee’s parenting course speaks beautifully of how parents can pour love into their children through their eyes. I remember silently looking at my sons and asking, “What am I saying?” and they would say, “You are saying, “I love you!”.
When we lift our eyes to God, we see his gaze of love. In our toughest moments, we need to look up and see his love and power. Too often, I look down instead. Like Peter, looking down at the waves, I flounder and sink. But then I hear again that loving call of God, “Lift your eyes up!”
Whatever battles surround you today, “Lift your eyes up!”
