Open the Eyes of My Heart

Daniel 9:1-2, ESV

In the first year of Darius the son of Ahasuerus, by descent a Mede, who was made king over the realm of the Chaldeans—in the first year of his reign, I, Daniel, perceived in the books the number of years that, according to the word of the Lord to Jeremiah the prophet, must pass before the end of the desolations of Jerusalem, namely, seventy years.

Perception is everything.

We can live our entire lives without ever perceiving the spiritual significance—and assignment—of the time for which we were born.

The Hebrew word which has been translated perceive in this passage can also be translated “observe, understand, discern.”

Daniel perceived the spiritual moment in which he lived. He observed it and understood it and discerned it.

How?

Because he spent time with God (which we see all throughout the book of Daniel), and he spent time reading the books—the Word of God.

Spiritual perception comes through knowing God and knowing God’s Word. 

We know from earlier chapters in the book of Daniel that Daniel spent quiet time with God every single day in prayer and meditation. And, as a result, God gave Daniel revelation and understanding. 

Again, this is a pattern we see all throughout scripture. This is why Paul wrote to the Ephesian church and said:

Ephesians 1:17-19a, NIV

I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. 

In order for the eyes of our heart to be enlightened—for us to have the spiritual perception which precedes spiritual impact—we must know God. We must spend time with him, and we must spend time in the Word. Then, we can ask God to enlighten the eyes of our heart and increase our spiritual perception.

So, let’s do it. Let’s prepare our lives and hearts to seek the Lord, and let’s ask that we will receive the Spirit of wisdom and revelation to know Him better. Let’s ask that the eyes of our hearts will be enlightened to perceive the spiritual moment and assignment in which we are living and the power available to us to live it out!