Now My Eyes Have Seen You
Date: January 30, 2024
I use the BLESS method every morning for my devotional.
B - Bible Verse
L - Listen for God's Voice and pray
E - Explore the History and meaning
S - Study the Key Words or Phrases
S - Summarize and Share
You can read more about it by going to: What is a Faith Journal?
B - Bible Verse (NIV): Job 42:5 "My ears had heard of you but now my eyes have seen you."
L - Listen for God's Voice and Pray: Heavenly Father, I close my eyes and take a deep breath, and offer a prayer of gratitude to You for revealing Yourself to me in unique and profound ways.
E - Explore the History and Meaning: Job, a righteous man who faced unimaginable suffering, uttered these words after a transformative encounter with God. It was a moment of deep revelation and understanding. Job's journey reminds us that even during our trials, our faith can lead to profound encounters with God.
S - Study the Key Words or Phrases: The key phrase here is "now my eyes have seen you." It signifies a profound shift from just knowing about God to a personal encounter with Him.
S - Summarize and Share (Personal Devotional):
Imagine if you'd heard stories about a magical place your whole life, but you'd never actually been there. That was a bit like Job and his relationship with God. He'd known about God, heard stories, but He hadn't really experienced Him in a deep way. Then life threw him into some incredibly tough times.
During those hard moments, something unbelievable happened. Job felt God's presence in a way he'd never felt before. It was like finally visiting that magical place he'd heard about but never seen. Job realized that God wasn't just a distant idea; He was right there with him, like a caring parent during the worst of times.
Sometimes in our own lives, we might know about God, but we haven't really felt His closeness. It's a bit like knowing there's a delicious cake but never taking a bite. But when we face tough times, it can be like finally taking that first, delicious bite. In those moments, we can feel God's love and strength carrying us through, just like Job did.
As we flip through the pages of Job's life, we find a profound transformation. Job, a man who knew of God but had not experienced Him deeply, found himself right in the middle of unimaginable suffering. His friends offered explanations, but they all fell short. Job longed for a personal encounter with God.
Then, during his pain and questioning, it happened. He encountered God in a way he could never have anticipated. The presence of God became real, tangible, and undeniable. It was like finding an oasis in the middle of a barren desert. In that moment, Job transitioned from a distant awareness of God to an intimate relationship.
In our own lives, we might be on a similar path. We know of God, but there may come moments when our challenges seem overwhelming or our sorrow seems like more than we can handle, or when we long for something more - a genuine encounter with God.
So, take heart from Job's story. Know that even in the darkest times, you can experience the presence of God in a deeply personal way. Like Job, your life's narrative might shift from merely knowing about God to truly knowing Him, and that shift can be the most transformative journey you ever take.
Like Job, may we recognize His hand in our lives, even in the middle of our trials.
Four Bible Cross References:
Isaiah 6:5
John 14:9
Psalm 119:18
1 Corinthians 13:12