[Together as a She Reads Truth community, we are reading through Ephesians. Sign up for the reading plan here!]
Text: Ephesians 1:15-23
It’s a crazy thing to have your eyes opened to something. It’s a crazy wonderful thing when the eyes of your heart are opened to a truth that is life changing. I don’t think Paul would have prayed that our Father would give us a spirit of revelation or wisdom in the knowledge of Him for such wondrous things – if they were super easy to see as we went about our day to day life.
So what does he want us to see?
The hope He has called us to.
The riches of His glorious inheritance, the saints.
The immeasurable greatness of His power toward us who believe.
And all of these things are possible because of the resurrecting, saving power that our Father worked in Christ and because He’s put all of us – safely and lovingly, beneath the feet of His Savior Son who sits at His right hand.
Father, open the eyes of our heart. Give us a spirit of revelation and wisdom in the knowledge of You alone, for Your glory alone.
What do you REALLY hope for? In the quiet recesses of your desires, in the loud screaming thoughts of want. What is it you want and yearn after? Is it Jesus?
Do you realize how truly wealthy you are as a daughter of a risen King? To be a set aside as a saint (someone who will go to heaven) and be promised an inheritance there AND ALSO to have an inheritance now as a saint in other saints, the body of Christ. Community.
Let’s not let human words trip over holy ideas. Father, help us to dwell on what it looks like for us to worship a God with immeasurable greatness and power that works all things together for the good of those who love Him.
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64 thoughts on "the eyes of your heart opened"
Do you realize how truly wealthy you are as a daughter of a risen King? Wow to realize that I am a child of the greatest father. I no longer feel abandoned. Thank you Father of he most highest.
Praise the Lord daughters of the most high God!!! I am so blessed to be joining this community and particularly she reads truth Ephesians. I love God with every fiber of my being. Sometimes I fail to get it right, but I don’t give up because I know Whose I am. I learned so much thses last 2 days reading. I also read through comments and stopped and prayed where I was lead.
I am sadden to say that when I sit and think o the desires of my heart. I yearn for someone to truly accept me and love me no matter what. I know God does, but I have to truly start to believe it!!!!
I agree with everyone above. It is so amazing to know that God is SO amazing, sometimes more amazing than we would expect. No matter what anyone else has promised us and not kept their end of the bargain. That's one thing we don't have to worry about with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ Because he is the same yesterday, today, and forever more. Like his word says The same power that raised Christ from the dead is at work in us.
God is so great and Greatly to be praised! I thank God for not only giving us life but giving us hope and giving people the spirit to ensure that His will be done. It is people like Paul who speak to our humanity to guide it to The Lord. Who understand our stuggles and give us security in God by reminding us that He wants us to be with him in heaven and on earth. I’m so blessed by just two days in this study. Thank you God for saving my soul!
Praises! What I look for in Jesus is that I may know Him. Know Him in all things …doing His will…speak His word to those who need Him…obey His commandments…obey, obey and obey! …that I may know Him. Amen!
Just started She Reads Truth and am excited about how God will speak to me through this. I am already encouraged by the comments that I see from other Ladies. Life has gotten so hectic that I forget to put God first and then I fall because I did not take the time to draw my strength from him. Then I have a bunch of friends who are getting married or in relationships so my eye tends to go towards that instead of God, but He is the only one that will fulfill us. So I feel so blessed to hear this amazing word of encouragement and truth that I can take with me through out my day.
Ephesians 1 & 3 are powerful prayers Apostle Paul prayed for the church .It's a great one to pray for yourself when seeking wisdom and insight for God's word. From doing a study on Ephesians 1:19-23 , Father God desires us to know that He has delegated His power to us , the church , which is His Body on the earth. The powers and principalities are mentioned in Ephesians 3:10 as well .When you study this text in the original Greek , you find the powers are those evil powers that oppose Christ. We are seated in heavenly places in Christ Jesus now and eternally ,Ephesians 2:6,. Therefore all evil is under our feet through Christ Jesus. Glory to God ! What a Mighty God we serve ! 1 John 3:8 tells us the reason Jesus came was to destroy the works of the devil.
Open the eyes of my heart Lord, I want to see you! I pray everyday for God to open my heart so that when he speaks I will hear what he is asking me to do for Him. You have to still your busy mind to hear.
I am soaking in the Presence of The Lord because of this first chapter of Ephesians. I could spend a long time just on this chapter alone because it shows the very loving, giving nature of my Lord. He amazes me. To fill up on His precious Presence and for Holy Spirit to seal us with our inheritance in Him is so personal. I had to keep reading this chapter over and over to let it go deep. Thank you Lord for revelations of You as You take us deeper into Yourself.
This really touched me today as I have a problem with covetousness. God has given me everything I need to live a godly life in Himself. To search out here for other things to fill the God void is meaningless and expensive!! Better to rely on and stand in the blessedness that He has provided. Then I can find true contentment. (Phil 4:11)
“What do you really hope for as a daughter of a Risen King?” Powerful…
I loved that we were placed under Christ’s feet. We raise him up. We lift up the body of the chuch! As God raised Jesus from the dead, we too raise up the Son of Man. What great power God has given us!
praise God from whom all things come, and for his great mercies, and enduring love. I discovered SHE READS TRUTH in my search to go deeper, because I started feeling like I wasn't getting what I needed. I felt this deep need for more, and didn't where to begin. I didn't feel I could talk about it even though I wanted to, because I didn't think that they would understand where I was coming from.I said all of this to say,it's been a real blessing since I started reading and studying with you ladies. This is my second plan. I have read this passage of scripture so many times, perhaps I have become so familiar with it that I have taken it for granted. It got a hold of me this time, as I meditated on (vs 3) am just blown away by God's love, and the abundance of his blessings that he has prepared for us. We need only to receive it. What an awesome God.
ElllenMR, I know what you mean! Satan has really been working hard to drive a wedge between me and God over the last few months. He has been pulling out all the stops,too. It is because the closer you are to God the more he works at trying to break you apart. Just claim the victory as already won and just tell Him “GET BEHIND THEE SATAN!!” I am praying for you dear sister! Stay grounded in the word and pray for strengrh.
It feels like the enemy is doing everything possible to drag me away from the Lord! I’ve been SOAKING myself in His word since finding SRT, and turning back to the Lord but find myself bombarded by the deceiver everywhere! Ads, TV shows, books and mags, even toys for my kids! I don’t own a computer or video games bcuz of the terrible influences found there. I found SRT thru my phone and its been amazing to be led thru scripture that I so desperately need as a new believer! I feel as if I’ve been brainwashed and am just now waking up. I worry so much for my kids in today’s world, and that I haven’t brought them up in the church (only occasionally) and their father is a non-believer. I’ve ALWAYS believed in God tho, and I KNOW Jesus is at work, bringing me to him. Why do I hear these little comments or questions in my head that cast that little bit of doubt?? Please pray for me and my family! Pray that I don’t get led astray again, that the Holy Spirit keeps that tiny spark going til it’s a roaring fire!! Thanks Ladies, I appreciate it… This is what I really want!!!
I love She Reads Truth! The devotional material is excellent!
When you asked the question “what do you really hope for?” I immediately began thinking of lots of things I hope for. My mind went to earthly things. And then it says “is it Jesus?” I was caught off guard. I HAVE commited my life to God, and we have the type of relationship where I get giddy over his love for me. I love the Lord! So I was surprised by my initial reaction to the first question. It made me think, what do I REALLY hope for? I want to say it is Jesus always, a replenishing relationship with Him, but that is not always true. My eyes were opened to the reality of my hopes. I need to put my hope in Jesus, and in Him alone! Thank you for your words, they speak truth into my life!
My eyes have been opened quite a bit in this year alone. I’ve become more humble than before. When I say or do something not of Christ I’m convicted immediately. I’ve found that my faith and trust in God has been strengthened since my moms passing in March. This is a good passage for me because despite what I go through and who I deal with on a daily basis it reminds me that I am his and I have everything I need. Sometimes remembering this in the midst of a storm is a challenge for me. I panic but once I calm down and pray God always says why are u always stressing out, do you not trust or believe in me. I do however I tend to have the enemy attacking my mind during times as such. I want to be closer to him and have him breathe in me. I want him in my family. I want my husband to show his family his love for Christ. Prayer has been my answer since September.
I love this devotional today so much. I base my worth far too often on the baseline the world gives me: am I skinny enough, will I get a job, do my husband and I look perfect to the world. This reminds me that the Lord has granted me all of the riches I could ever imagine, all of the love and acceptance I could ever crave! How could I want for more? Thank you Jesus, for helping me to find my worth in you and not the world!
I am thankful to have had my eyes opened recently to the way God has blessed me. Sometimes I get so focused on my problems that I forget all the wonderful things God has done for me. He is so worthy of all glory, honor, and praise. Thank you Lord for the glorious inheritance that I have through you!
Amen!!! I love the prayer at the end of the Devo and the statement before it about human words versus holy ideas.
Ive been truly blessed by the word in an intimate way in just 2 days of starting this plan. It was truly meant that God allowed me to run up on this in particular. I just want to shout hallelujah for his wonderful works.
I AM MORE THAN A CONQUEROR THROUGH CHRIST WHO STRENGTHENS ME!!!! WE ALL ARE :D
Love this prayer! Think I might start using verses from in it in my daily prayers! So awesome to realize what we will gain in Heaven! Love Paul’s compassion and care for these people to try to show them how much God cares for them!
I love this part of chapter 1 of Ephesians. I actually have verses 17-19 circled in my bible and I am praying them over my daughter.
I dk wat to say. thank u Father God for showing me truth and I pray for growth for myself and for every other woman who desires it. in Jesus name Amen
As a woman who has had the blessing of being taught these truths from the time I was born it is easy for me to read these passages I am so familiar with feel nothing at all. I often pray that the Lord will indeed open the eyes of my heart that I will behold wonderful things from His word before I even start my morning time with him. This morning I am blown away by the power we have through God because of Christ – power! This power raised the dead – RAISED THE DEAD! If this power raised the dead it too can raise the deadness and depression I feel within my own spiritual soul – God Thank you for this power – open my eyes to see it!
The power of God is amazing. These verses serve as a reminder to me of Christ’s unending love for all of us. It brings peace and quiet to my heart.
I love the reminder that the same power that raised Christ from the dead is at work in us. It's easy for me to forget the sheer power of God, I get used to thinking of him in terms of a father or a counselor and lose sight of the face that he's also the creator of all things.
I love that Paul attributes my belief in God’s immeasurable strength. I am so thankful thy His strength is immeasurable!
God give me a spirit of WISDOM and of REVELATION in the knowledge of You…have my eyes and heart enlightened to KNOW the HOPE in which I've been CALLED. Amen.
When I read this, I had to stop and think, "did that say what I think it said?". The church is at the center of the universe? I had to stop right there and confess the times I look at it as just one more meeting, just one more choir practice, just one more thing to have to go to. Lord, help me to see it through your eyes, as something precious to You and realize how incredibly blessed and privileged I am to be a part of something as huge as the center of the universe! I think when we begin looking at it as "THE church" instead of "just church", we will see it more as a blessing to be a part of it, and not just "one more thing to do."
I know I’ve read this passage many times. Maybe it’s using a different translation, or the fact that things inmy life are going through a transition right, but Paul’s prayer just smacked me. What a great pray for intelligence, discernment, knowing God personally, focus, and clarity to find your calling. And I love the outright statement that God is in charge, and that he has the final word.
I love the verse 19 and 20 –
'That power is like the working of His mighty strength, which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at His right hand in the heavenly realms'
The same power God used to raise Jesus from the dead is also working in us! How silly our worries seem when we sit them next to this fact. God has the power to raise Christ from the dead, but I'm worried he won't have the power to *insert your worry here*.
Thank you for that reminder! Will be praying that way when I am worried about something.
Ok so I wrote uplifting not derail!! My iPad thinks it knows what I want to say! Sorry.
What on derail comments! They are truly uplifting to read.
I am so excited to have found a sisterhood in this blog and excited to be enlightened with truth daily! I've been looking for a bible study group and God heard my prayers. I found the tag on instagram and am so happy to see such amazing women be inspired like I am. I struggle with confidence daily and this is so reassuring to me…that I can be hopeful in knowing I am chosen for great things beyond my understanding! Thanks so much for this community!!! IG user ericathanks
Thank you for such wonderful words to go along with such AMAZING Truth. So thankful to be worshipping the Lord who has immeasurable greatness and power that works all things together for the good of those who love Him and gives us a GREAT hope.
i am thankful for this passage, I've been trying to make my prayers lately, prayer of thanksgiving and asking God to reveal himself to me in unique ways. Today my prayer is that God would open the eyes of my heart to what He is trying to teach me.
I am so thankful for this community of beautiful women!
Often we forget that God CHOSE us (flaws and all!) It's so reassuring and comforting to know that He wants us to know Him more.
Lord, I pray that you would reveal yourself to me daily. Open the eyes of my heart, as your word says, so that I may know the HOPE to which you've called me, the RICHES of your glorious inheritance, and your incomparably GREAT power for those who believe!
I love how Paul prays that I (me, yes… me!) would receive the spirit of wisdom and revelation so I can know God better. One of the things I have been realizing and learning lately is how incredibly glorious God is. It was so reassuring to read that the same power that raised Christ from the dead is the same power that God displays in my life every day. That is incredible! The same power displayed in the greatest miracle that has ever or will ever happen is the same power that God uses in me and through me as His daughter!
That is such an incredibly powerful truth!
I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you will know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, (Ephesians 1:18 NASB)
No one realizes how stressed I am, I have no idea where to go next. I lost my job after 17 years of working there and I’m not as a spring chicken.
Lord, help me to figure out the path that you already have planned for me. Please allow me to be open to hearing what u have to say and give me the knowledge to know it is u talking to me…
Blessed Mother, please watch over all the women who need u now, and all the women who read this blog, because u understand. In your name we ask this….
Praying for you, Andrea!
Help me dear Lord, I really wanna know u intimately. According to Ephesians 1:17-20, before now, I never thought of Jesus as somebody I wanted the most but now after reading this, ♏Ɣ understanding has been enlightened, praise God!
As a young, new Christian I think that it is easy to forget how precious you are in the sight of God. We are His CHOSEN ones. He knew about us, and chose us before time even began. We wouldn’t be able to count any of His thoughts about us, because there are so many. He knows when we sleep, and when we are awake…isn’t that incredible to think about? That the creator of the entire universe knows that about us? And yet we can barely manage to set aside 20 minutes a day to our Father without being interrupted by our phones or lives.
I too am so glad to have found you! I will be sharing on my little blog too. Thank you so much- God Bless you all!
I loved this passage. It was such a thankful passage, which is something I'm striving to cultivate in my life at the moment as well. I was convicted that I just don't pray for others…rarely. It's always for my husband or me. :( I want to be a blessing to others and a powerful force in the body of Christ, regularly lifting many others up to God. We have been so blessed!
“Do you realize how truly wealthy you are as a daughter of a risen King? To be set aside as a saint (someone who will go to heaven) and be promised an inheritance there AND ALSO to have an inheritance now as a saint in other saints, the body of Christ.”
As my family struggles with what seem to be innumerable financial burdens as a result of a recent move (as well as some unexpected financial needs), I will be marinating in the quote above for days! All things in perspective … I need to remember how truly blessed I am as a ‘daughter of a risen King.’
Goodness, I was just in your shoes, and am still taking off those shoes. My husband and I recently moved across the country and spent our savings to do it. We did find jobs, but financial burdens did come up. I just want to encourage you that during this time, I was able (although I failed at it a lot) to draw a lot closer to Christ. There were so many things that I simply could not control…and I'm a planner, and I couldn't plan. There was nothing to plan with. :) God provided. There are still things every day teaching me who is really in control, and how blessed I am. I just wanted to you to know, that I'm praying for you, and God will not fail. :)
All these incredible blessing are ours only because of what Jesus did on the cross! (vs. 20-21) What a beautiful reminder and promise! Our security of salvation and heaven is tied up in Jesus. He will never let us down, so our place in heaven is secure! How thankful that makes me!
Retreading verses 19-20 really hit me afresh as to how much power God has for us in Christ, now that is amazing!
I love these passages, give me the discernment of prayer not only for myself and family but for the whole body of Christ. The power of prayer, the intimacy of prayer drives me to my knees for the bride of Christ. Truly, truly a blessing to be reading this again with you wonderful ladies.
I grew up going to church. I’ve always believed in God. I’ve always known what a blessing it is to know my Savior. For the past few years though I’ve pretty much pushed God aside though. I put him last in my life instead of first. I treated prayer and reading the Bible as a chore. The last few months I’ve felt like something was missing so I started reading my Bible a little more and praying a little more. Then I found She Reads Truth. This community is truly a blessing. I’m recommitting myself to Christ. I know that being a Christian is a whole lot more than just saying I’m a Christian. I pray that all of us would have our hearts opened to the wonderful gifts God has given us and to how amazing and wonderful he truly is.
I. Am with you Jessica. I am reading more if the word and trying to,dedicate my time and heart to early mormmg prayer and meditation. Is time to focus more on home and not things made by him. May God continue to draw us nearer to Hm each day as we grow in His wisdom and power.
I have prayed this prayer (Eph 1:17-23) over myself and over my family regularly for a couple of years. So powerful! God has revealed Himself to us like never before. I can see the work of the Holy Spirit both of our girls, who are 7 & 4. They pray big, powerful, faith filled prayers and share the love of Jesus because they KNOW the immeasurable power that is IN and FOR them. Nothing in this world compares to the glorious inheritance that is ours as daughters of The King. I pray that each and every lady doing this study has her eyes FLOODED so that she can KNOW and UNDERSTAND this HOPE! It’s not something we have to wait for in heaven. His promises are for us here on earth. He is with us now! Start praying this over yourself daily. You will be transformed!
I love this idea! Thanks for sharing. It is such a powerful prayer!
Alesha <3
Me too..what a great thought to share and a blessing to your family!
This prayer is what jumped out at me from this chapter, too. It's never registered with me before, but I plan to begin praying it regularly for my family as you have been.
Thanks for sharing!!!
It’s hard to remember to dwell on this incredible reality when life is so ordinary. I imagine if we could spend even a minute understanding the full implications of our inheritance in knowing him, things would be radically different. Praying for that blessing over all of us this week!
Amen
O wow, I am so thrilled to have discovered your wonderful blog. What a blessing! Ooh, I am going to share it on my own blog right now :)