I want to welcome you to Day Ten. As we’re fasting and praying together, we’re so thankful for everyone that is joining us, all over the world, people fasting and praying. And today the focus is on, “Open my eyes, Lord, and let me see through the eyes of those who know me best.”
You know, it’s our family that matters the most. And sometimes we’re impressing others, but we’re not really having impact on our own families. I pray that what we are in public is seen in private by our families.
Seeing Yourself Through the Eyes of Those That Know You Best
If your family was asked to describe your character what would they say? If they were asked about your strengths and weaknesses would there be any surprises? Most of us have a public life and a private life and our families see us in our private lives when our guard is down. Who we are in public matters. But what our families and those who know us best see matters even more.
If I’ve led thousands to the Lord but lost the respect and admiration of my family then something is not right. To see yourself through your immediate and extended family’s eyes and those who know you best is an exercise worth trying. I don’t ever want to be what’s standing between Jesus and those I love the most. And neither do you.
Today's Bible Reading
Luke 11:33-36
33“No one, when he has lit a lamp, puts it in a secret place or under a basket, but on a lampstand, that those who come in may see the light. The lamp of the body is the eye. Therefore, when your eye is good, your whole body also is full of light. But when your eye is bad, your body also is full of darkness.35Therefore take heed that the light which is in you is not darkness.36If then your whole body is full of light, having no part dark, the whole body will be full of light, as when the bright shining of a lamp gives you light.”
Luke 12:2
2For there is nothing covered that will not be revealed, nor hidden that will not be known.
Matthew 7:3-5
3And why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye, but do not consider the plank in your own eye?4Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me remove the speck from your eye’; and look, a plank is in your own eye?5Hypocrite! First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.
Galatians 6:1-10
1Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted. 2Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. 3For if anyone thinks himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself. 4But let each one examine his own work, and then he will have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another. 5For each one shall bear his own load.
Be Generous and Do Good
6Let him who is taught the word share in all good things with him who teaches.
7Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. 8For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life. 9And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart. 10Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith.
II Corinthians 7:9-11
9Now I rejoice, not that you were made sorry, but that your sorrow led to repentance. For you were made sorry in a godly manner, that you might suffer loss from us in nothing. 10For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted; but the sorrow of the world produces death. 11For observe this very thing, that you sorrowed in a godly manner: What diligence it produced in you, what clearing of yourselves, what indignation, what fear, what vehement desire, what zeal, what vindication! In all things you proved yourselves to be clear in this matter.
Hebrews 12:7-17
7If you endure chastening, God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom a father does not chasten? 8But if you are without chastening, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate and not sons. 9Furthermore, we have had human fathers who corrected us, and we paid them respect. Shall we not much more readily be in subjection to the Father of spirits and live? 10For they indeed for a few days chastened us as seemed best to them, but He for our profit, that we may be partakers of His holiness. 11Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.
Renew Your Spiritual Vitality
12Therefore strengthen the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees, 13and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be dislocated, but rather be healed.
14Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord: 15looking carefully lest anyone fall short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up cause trouble, and by this many become defiled; 16lest there be any fornicator or profane person like Esau who for one morsel of food sold his birthright. 17For you know that afterward, when he wanted to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no place for repentance, though he sought it diligently with tears.
Prayer:
Father, today, on this 10th day, do a work in our families and in our own life, through the eyes of those who know us best. Let us be transparent and pure and real. Let us be kind. Let us be forgiving. Let us be compassionate one to another, tenderhearted, as the scripture said, with brothers, with sisters, with parents, with children, with any areas of reconciliation needed. I pray today for that kind of power to be released on our families and in our own lives, In Jesus’ name.