Hymns

Day 2 – Open My Eyes

The Psalmist surely knew what he needed to be able to connect with his God! His eyes needed to be opened. His heart needed to be right before God so that he was willing to accept what was written. We can read all we want but unless our hearts are soft and willing to receive God’s Word, we will not understand. We are as blind people without the Word of God, my friend. We are as ships in the night who can only use the stars to guide them. Unless there is a lighthouse out there to warn the ship’s captain of upcoming danger, the ship will surely crash. The Word is our lighthouse and it shines ever bright to reveal to us our sin! Our path in life is guided by the pure light of the Word.

The blessed light of Jesus Christ and His Gospel illuminates our hearts. Our sin is before us and conviction sets in and repentance comes forth. Salvation brings with it a blessed cleansing from our filthy rags and we now have the precious blood of Jesus Christ covering us!

Praise the Lord that the blessed Gospel light shone on me some 27 years ago! I truly understood what John Newton wrote when he penned Amazing Grace and said “was blind but now I see”! We truly are blind before salvation. We cannot see what God’s Word has hidden there for us. Those who profess to be saved or “spiritual” cannot truly understand what God’s Word has to say.

The greatest of Pharisees could not understand what Jesus was speaking about so how can the unsaved understand? They can’t! They are spiritually blind. But the born-again believer has the Holy Spirit who interprets His Word to them as they read.

Today’s hymn was written by Clara Scott Born. She was born on December 3, 1841 and died on June 21, 1897. She was not much older than I when she was thrown from her buggy by a runaway horse and she went to be with the Lord. I researched her song, Open My Eyes to see what prompted her to write these beautiful words. I could not find what her motivation was for this song. However, it is evident that she was motivated by her God. If you would like to listen to the melody, it can be found at Cyber Hymnal

Open My Eyes
Clara H. Scott

Open my eyes, that I may see
Glimpses of truth Thou hast for me;
Place in my hands the wonderful key
That shall unclasp and set me free.

Refrain

Silently now I wait for Thee,
Ready my God, Thy will to see,
Open my eyes, illumine me,
Spirit divine!

Open my ears, that I may hear
Voices of truth Thou sendest clear;
And while the wave notes fall on my ear,
Everything false will disappear.

Refrain

Open my mouth, and let me bear,
Gladly the warm truth everywhere;
Open my heart and let me prepare
Love with Thy children thus to share.

Refrain

This dear lady knew where she could find her direction in life. She knew where she could find encouragement to press on. It is evident that she loved God’s Word, her time in prayer, a closer walk with the Lord, she had a love for lost souls and a love for the brethren. We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. (1 Jo 3:14a) What beautiful words she wrote, amen?

The Word of God is the wonderful key that opens our eyes and illumines our hearts! Without being in the Scriptures every day, we cannot get the nourishment we need to be a healthy Christian. Would you miss a meal? If you’re not in your Bible on a regular basis, you will be an anorexic Christian. You will be spiritually malnourished. Your spiritual life will be weak and when you need guidance and encouragement from God’s 2ord, you will have nothing to pull it from. You get as much out of the Scriptures as you put into it, my friend. Micah wasn’t afraid because he knew that no matter how dark the situation was around him, he had the light of God on his side.

Can you say the same?