Day 1"Open thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law". (Ps. 119:18)
Scripture Reading: Psalm 119
I remember, way back in the dark ages when I was in the ninth grade I made the mistake of taking a course in high school called algebra. One semester was enough. It made me smart enough to know I better not take another. Oh, I got the answers, but almost failed because I did not get them the way I was supposed to. My eyes were blind to the method. I just couldn't get it.
Sometimes I run into the same problem in my Bible reading, do you? Sometimes I read a portion of Scripture and there just doesn't seem to be anything there. My mind and heart basically say, "Huh?" At times like these we may be tempted to quit, but that is not an option for a Christian. Even when we do not seem to gain insight we still need to be in the Word; we really need to be in the Word more.
Our text above gives us some insight on what to do when we have a dry spell, and not just then, but at all times. We need to pray, "Open thou mine eyes ...." We need the ability, the spiritual ability, to see things He has promised, to see his encouraging words, to see his benefits, and yes, even his warnings. All too often we become blinded to everything except our problems. Our problems loom so large they hide the promises of God's Word. The Bible is teeming with marvels of God; what he has done, what he is doing, and what he desires to do if we would just commit ourselves to Him, and yet we struggle along, thinking the Bible does not have the answers for my need, or the things we face today.
Some people think that the Bible is just too hard to understand, that it's a secret book except to a chosen few; that it is veiled to man. The problem however, is this; the veil is on our sinful hearts, not on God's Word. The reason we have problems in God's Word is sin, unfaithfulness of heart. There are wondrous things found in the Word of God, but too often we wander about as a blind man in a candy store, not realizing all the delights that are there.
I never have understood algebra, of course I don't try to, but I do want to understand and see wondrous things in God's Word. My prayer therefore is: "With my whole heart I have sought thee ...." (Ps. 119:10). "Open thou mine eyes that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law" (Ps.119:18). Simplistic though it may seem, the Bible is the answer to man's problems, for man's problems are rooted in sin, and the Bible tells us what to do about that. Get into the Word, asking God to open your eyes.