Open Our Eyes, Lord (2 Kings 6:17)
By Lynette Kittle
Today’s Bible Verse: “And Elisha prayed, ‘Open his eyes, Lord, so that he may see.’ Then 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
Have you ever found yourself feeling outnumbered and surrounded by the opposition? If so, you understand those who may feel hopeless and helpless when encircled by the enemy, not knowing where to turn or what to do next.
Yet when the prophet Elisha woke up to find an enemy’s army with horses and chariots encamped around him, unlike his servant who began to panic, he had a different reaction.
“'Don’t be afraid,' the prophet answered. ‘Those who are with us are more than those who are with them'" (2 Kings 6:16).
Realizing his servant could only see what was happening in the natural, Elisha asked God to open his servant’s eyes so he could see what was really going on in the spiritual.
For many of us, it’s easier to become distracted and caught up in what the enemy is doing around us than to keep our eyes steadily focused on the Lord.
Sadly, some believers in difficult situations believe they have to fight their battles on their own, leading many to turn to worldly tactics rather than applying spiritual principles.
But like Elisha requested for his servant, rather than thinking we’re all on our own in the conflict, we can ask God to open our eyes to see Him in the midst of our circumstances.
We, too, can pray for Him to reveal the truth of the situation to us. Instead of feeling alone and outnumbered, we can inquire of God to show us beyond what we see through our physical eyes. We can ask Him for a glimpse into the spiritual to see how He is standing with us.
Too often our emotions and responses are based on what we see because we’re looking only at the natural circumstances. But like those in Bible, we can encourage not only ourselves but also those around us, to gain confidence in God by reminding each other where our strength and victory come from in the world.
2 Chronicles 32:7-8 records a time where Israel’s enemy was staging a mighty attack against them. Instead of cowering in fear, King Hezekiah took the opportunity to encourage his people by reminding them where their power comes from in difficult situations. “’Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or discouraged because of the king of Assyria and the vast army with him, for there is a greater power with us than with him. With him is only the arm of flesh, but with us it the Lord our God to help us and to fight our battles.’ And the people gained confidence from what Hezekiah the king of Judah said.”
We, too, can gain confidence to be strong, courageous, and free from fear and discouragement, when we remind ourselves and one another of the One who is on our side.
Like 1 John 4:4, God reminds us, “You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the One who is in you is greater than the One who is in the world.”
Lynette Kittle is married with four daughters. She enjoys writing about faith, marriage, parenting, relationships, and life. Her writing has been published by Focus on the Family, Decision, Today’s Christian Woman, iBelieve.com, kirkcameron.com, Ungrind.org, Startmarriageright.com, growthtrac.com, and more. She has an M.A. in Communication from Regent University and serves as an associate producer for Soul Check TV.
Related Resource: Study the Book of Daniel with Us This Fall!
What does it look like to live with courage, clarity, and conviction when everything around you feels uncertain? The book of Daniel tells the story of faith under fire—of ordinary people who stayed rooted in God while living in a culture that didn’t share their values. From exile in Babylon to lion’s dens and prophetic dreams, Daniel shows us that small acts of faith can anchor us in uncertain times.
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