What do you see? I think this is a very important question to ask.

“Then he sent horses and chariots and a strong force there. They went by night and surrounded the city”  Vs 14

“When the servant of the man of God got up and went out early the next morning, an army with horses and chariots had surrounded the city. “Oh no, my Lord! What shall we do?” the servant asked. Vs 15

“Don’t be afraid”, the prophet answered. “Those who are with us are more than those who are with them”. Vs 16

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. Vs 17  (2 kings 6: 14 – 17 NIV)

I find the above passage very interesting and insightful. It shows the reaction of 2 men (Elisha and his servant) to the same scenario. One acting in fear and the other in boldness and confidence. Why? One (Elisha) could see what the other (his servant) could not see. Isn’t this similar to life issues? Elisha’s servant got afraid, seeing an army marching out against two men, while Elisha was seeing a greater army marching out against another army far smaller in size compared to it.

You know, often times in life, it’s the same. We worry because we can’t see. Our two eyeballs are open to the physical just like Elisha’s servant to see our problems, challenges etc. But the eyes of our minds are not open to see the numerous opportunities God has placed around us. What we see, determines how we act. It’s essential we see well! The renewal of our minds which comes as a result of our continuous walk and fellowship with the spirit brings about a change of sight. 

 “The word of the LORD came to me, saying, “Jeremiah, what do you see?” And I said, “I see the branch of an almond tree” (Jer. 1:11 AMP)

“Then the LORD said to me, “You have seen well, for I am [actively] watching over my word to fulfil it” (Jer. 1:12 AMP)

God asked Jeremiah, what do you see? He answered and God said you see well. My dear friends, looking at the major preoccupation of your mind, if God was to ask “What do you see?” would He be able to say to you, “YOU SEE WELL”? Do the things you see bring wellness to your soul? Do they help you conform to God’s image more, or do they distort your view of life and scriptures? I believe God was asking Jeremiah this, because for Him and Jeremiah to walk together, they had to agree (Amos 3:3). They had to see the same things. Sometimes the problem we have is, our minds don’t see what God sees, so it’s difficult for us to walk in faith.

Jesus was to heal a particular man, and this happened:

“Taking the blind man by the hand, He led him out of the village; and after spitting on his eyes and laying His hands on him, He asked him, “Do you see anything?” (Mark 8:23 AMP)

“And he looked up and said, “I see people, but [they look] like trees, walking around” (Mark 8:24 AMP)

“Then again Jesus laid His hands on his eyes; and the man stared intently and [his sight] was

restored, and he began to see everything clearly. (Mark 8:25 AMP)

[completely]

After Jesus first prayer, notice the man could see, but he wasn’t seeing well. He saw humans like trees. Jesus didn’t allow him to go. That would have been dangerous. He could have pick up an axe and started hacking at people, or started leaning on people. Notice Jesus called him and prayed for him again, until he saw clearly. Let me add an important principle below.

Whatever we are experiencing in our lives, is a result of what our gaze is fixed upon. If you notice you are worried, full of anxiety, fears, and burdened about the future, check your gaze, you might just be too focused on your problems and challenges and that has fuelled your thoughts. If you are struggling with a particular sin, check the kind of videos or songs you’ve been listening to, your gaze might just be on the wrong things. Your gaze determines your personality. What you look upon determines what you become. So if you want to see right, start looking at the right things. Fix your gaze more upon the perfect law of liberty (the scriptures). Let it define you, your life and your life principles, shut down every voice not from God which speaking to you.

The issue of sight is important, we know this because Jesus said:

“The light of the body is the eye: therefore when your eye is single, your whole body also is full of light; but when your eye is evil, your body is full of darkness” (Luke 11:34 KJV)

Again, let me ask, what do you keep your gaze on? does it bring wellness to your soul? In the book of Numbers 21:6 – 9, the children of Israel were healed by setting their gaze upon the brazen serpent.

“So Moses made a serpent of bronze and put it on the pole, and it happened that if a serpent had bitten any man, when he looked to the bronze serpent, he lived” (Numbers 21:9 AMP)

So much power is in what you look upon. Setting your gaze on the right things brings life. By looking on Christ, who he is and what He has done for us, we are changed. Our soul receives life. We are transformed from who we used to be to who Christ is. And then our reactions are defined from that view point. We then act no longer in fear but in courage and love. Paul counsels:

“Set your mind and keep focused habitually on the things above [the heavenly things], not on things that are on the earth [which have only temporal value]” (Col. 3:2 AMP)

Yes. Our gaze must be right. Despite our situations we must learn to see what He sees. We must also learn to keep our gaze on Him to be like Him.

“But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the spirit of the Lord” (2 Cor. 3:18  KJV)

It is my prayer that:

The eyes of your understanding be enlightened, that you may know what is the hope of His calling, and what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints. And what Is the exceeding greatness of his power to us who believe, according to the working of his mighty power which he wrought in Christ, when He raised Him from the dead, and set Him at His own right hand in the heavenly place far above all principality and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come.

I Call You Blessed

Written by Samson Afolabi