Open MY Eyes, Lord

II Kings 6:17~ And Elisha prayed, and said, "LORD, I pray, open his eyes that he may see." Then the LORD opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw. And behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha. (NKJV-italics mine).

Open his eyes that he may see. What was it that Elisha wanted his servant to see? Go back to verse 15: And when the servant of the man of God arose early and went out, there was an army, surrounding the city with horses and chariots. And his servant said to him, "Alas, my master! What shall we do?"

Have you ever felt this way? Surrounded? Locked in, eyes focused on the army (trials, circumstances, and battles of life)? Ever feel like hope is some faded four letter word...one that MAYBE you held tight to once long ago, but you have become battle weary, or as in the servant's case, the battle looked bigger than you? Friends, let me tell you. I have been there. I AM there. When it seems that the enemies are surrounding me. When it feels like hope is fading. When it feels like there is NO where to go because no matter WHICH path you take, an enemy is blocking it.

The Holman KJV Study Bible says this about these verses (and 13-14): The Syrians sent a major expedition to surround Elisha in Dothan, about 10 miles north of Samaria. A supernatural view of Dothan showed the servant that, contrary to what his unaided eyes told him, military leaders were not in control of coming events. A greater force was present, unseen but potent, ready to fight on behalf of the righteous.

As I was studying this chapter, the Lord brought two verses to my mind.

John 10:10~ The thief comes only to steal, kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. (NIV 84)

1 Peter 5:8~ Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. (NIV 84)

I NEED my eyes opened. Not to see the battle. Not to see the enemy, but to see, as Elisha's servant did, the surrounding of God's army around me. Maybe you do too.
Psalms 34:7~ The angel of the LORD encamps all around those who fear Him, and delivers them. (NKJV).

Do you see that sweet sisters in Christ? He not only surrounds (encamps) around them, but He DELIVERS them!! Fear is 'yare' (yaw-ray') in Hebrew. It means to 'be afraid, stand in awe, fear'. To 'revere' God-to recognize the power and position of the individual revered and render him proper respect. (Strong's New Expanded Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible, Red Letter Edition: Hebrew, Greek and Aramic Dictionary).

My prayer for you is that God will open your eyes too. That He will surround you with His army. That:

Exodus 14:14~ The Lord will fight for you, and you shall hold your peace. (NKJV)
Joshua 10:25~ Then Joshua said to them, "Do not be afraid, nor be dismayed; be strong and of good courage, for thus the LORD will do to all your enemies against whom you fight." (NKJV)
Psalms 18:17~ He delivered me from my strong enemy, from those who hated me, for they were too strong for me. (NKJV)

Fight the good fight of faith sisters!! (1 Timothy 6:12). Be STRONG in the Lord!!

Jennifer Newsom, OBS Group Leader