The sky was gray mirroring my mood. All I wanted to do was roll over and go back to sleep. My dog had a different plan. Nosing me repeatedly, I finally dragged myself out of bed and down the street with him for his morning walk.
As we walked, my cloudy mood persisted. As I pondered why, I realized how many times I let worried thoughts dominate my thinking. I allow my mind’s eye to perceive the worst, focus on the negative. Those thoughts are like pulling the curtains on the windows of my soul – blocking out the light.
Then, this scripture came to mind: ”Your eyes are windows into your body. If you open your eyes wide in wonder and belief, your body fills up with light. If you live squinty-eyed in greed and distrust, your body is a dank cellar. If you pull the blinds on your windows, what a dark life you will have!” Matthew 6:22-23 (MSG)
As I returned home and sat down at my desk. I pulled back the curtain on my window. Light poured into the room even on this gray, misty morning. As I looked out, I saw the cardinal chirping merrily on the feeder. Mr. Squirrel was dancing under the oak tree as he scavenged for acorns and the last blooms of summer were swaying in the breeze. All these things that I had missed just moments before with the curtain closed.
Just as I let light into my window, God reminded me that I need to “open my eyes wide in wonder and belief” (Matthew 6:22-23 MSG) and let His light flood my soul and mind.
Light, in Greek, means a source of light, radiance, divine illumination to reveal and impart life, through Christ. Contrast that to darkness, in Greek, which means a brand of moral, spiritual obscurity which block the light of God; when faith is lacking.
Worry spiritually obscures my thinking, my mind’s eye. It is like living “squinty-eyed…in distrust” (Matthew 6:22-23 MSG) It chips away at my faith. It blocks the light of God. Casting darkness into my soul and mind.
When we open our eyes wide in wonder and belief, we allow God’s life-giving light to pour into our souls and minds and bring health and wholeness.
I can choose to look for wonder even on the gray days. I can choose to believe God's promises because His word never fails. I can choose to focus on His light over the world's darkness.
“The Word gave life to everything that was created, and his life brought light to everyone. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it (John 1:4-5 NLT).
