eyes to see and ears to hear
Mary Magdalene was overwhelmed and confused when she discovered the empty tomb. Her bewilderment only compounded her grief, and she collapsed into tears. As she wept, her risen Savior appeared and stood beside her, but she didn’t recognize Him. She looked at Him; she even talked to Him. But somehow she didn’t realize Who was right in front of her eyes.
I do the same thing far too often.
In my ignorance, busyness, and sometimes just the emotions of the moment, I easily miss Jesus when He’s standing right in front of me. I simply don’t realize it’s Him—ever present, ever speaking. My eyes can be so blind that I miss Him in painted sunsets and unforeseen provision. My ears can be so deaf that I miss His voice in familiar Bible passages and the words of a friend.
Mary eventually recognized Him. You know what finally opened her eyes and ears?
He called her by name. His voice—His tender, powerful, matchless voice—uniquely calling her name was enough to make her realize He’d been beside her all along. Her blinders fell off; her ears were opened. She saw. She heard. She knew.
I desire to see the Lord in expected and unexpected places. I want to hear Him in common and uncommon ways. I need Him to open my eyes and unblock my ears.
Jesus, say my name!
@danielleH says:
Jesus, say my name!
That did something to my heart…
(an amazing, beautiful post)
Oh my goodness, I love that. Jesus says your name all the time. He says mine, too. I find that I have to get past my “rules” to really hear it. He just AMAZES me with His love. I pray everyday for the eyes of my heart to be open and my ears to hear so that I don’t miss a thing … a “God Moment,” a divine appointment, a word, or just the opportunity to love on Him and let Him love on me. You are most precious Alece. I am so thankful you are back!
beautiful. Jesus say my name!
Faith can be that silent voice that speaks inside our minds. We “hear” the voices all around us, but don’t “listen” as much as we should to what is actually being said.
When you are moved by faith, even when you may not recognize what is inspiring you, that is the voice of your Jesus.
We see faith with our minds, not our eyes. We hear faith with our hearts, not our ears.
@cassgirl says:
What an incredible post, I was actually moved to tears.
“I desire to see the Lord in expected and unexpected places. I want to hear Him in common and uncommon ways. I need Him to open my eyes and unblock my ears.”
This is what grabbed me the most.
Moved to tear is right Heidi!!
Alece dear friend….I love your heart. Your thoughts. Your words. Your writing is so powerful and I can see your growth in it. I love being able to witness that.
Love you.
I meant moved to TEARS. Obviously. ;0)
on a funny note…. when I read the last line “Jesus, say my name” it INSTANTLY makes that song “say my name say my name, when no one is around you, say baby I found you” come into my head. HA!!! ;-) heehee
And I think I don’t know the correct words, but those are the ones in my head. HA!
Keep on growin’ sista friend!
@moweezle says:
Great post!!! So intimate and personal. It really touched me…thanks!
“Alece”
He is likely to be anywhere, anytime – some say he even made it to Australia on one occasion! =>
<B
Beautiful. You know … In reading through John last fall, I was impressed with how many people didn’t recognize Jesus after He rose from the dead. In fact, it seems it was nearly everyone. Once He was revealed to them they could see Him, but otherwise … they didn’t. I have wondered many times about why this was so. Wondered if it was because Jesus looked entirely differently, or if there was just an “invisible cloak,” as it were, over Him. I love what you’ve painted here. Eyes to see and ears to hear. That has been rumbling around in me lately too. And the power of being personally noticed by Almighty God. There is nothing like it.
Thanks for the thoughts. Love you.
@tamhodge says:
“….uniquely calling her name was enough to make her realize He’d been beside her all along.”
girl, this sent shivers everywhere over me. the good kind. the kind that made me well up. it is just such a beautiful picture of His deep love for us. to know that He knows my name and calls to me daily, by name…sigh…and i walk by.
thank you alece. i love this post. it spoke to my heart in a big way. thank you.
Mine too.
Whoa.
@cassgirl says:
Brava Friend… You are so right about what you said.
You see growth in writing…. oh my cow (as alece would say) it’s so notiecable and sometimes it literally takes your breath away.
“i can see your growth in it.” — i can’t tell you what that means to me. thanks, friends.
you’re right, debra. i know He’s always saying my name. i just want my heart to be more sensitive to hearing Him…
love!
Oh Alece, I wish I was somewhere near to where you are because I would just hug you to pieces. Your heart for the Lord is just so big and full and amazing. He is so going to honor that request. I am praying, “Father, speak to her in amazing and loud and quiet and surprising ways today!” Much love to you Alece!
@tamhodge says:
weirdo.
:lol:
thank you for your beautiful thoughts… and your beautiful heart.
I know. It’s sad the amount of songs that pop into my head on any given day. The soundtrack of my mind would be hilarious.