Spiritual Eye Surgery

You can listen to this post here on Refresh Her podcast.

Last year at a yearly examination at my optometrist’s office, the doctor slid his chair back and said, “You can plan on having eye surgery sometime this year. Your cataracts are ready to come off.”

I was so surprised! I was seeing well! Oh, magazine print was a little difficult, and driving at night wasn’t the best, but magazines are using lighter print than they used to, and why do cars have such bright lights on them now? There wasn’t anything really wrong with my eyes, but okay, I went along with the doctor and my first surgery was scheduled.

It happened first thing in the morning. That evening when the dilation had lessened I could not believe what I was seeing. Colors were so bright! Even white was different! The threads on fabrics were so pronounced I couldn’t believe my eyes. When I looked in the mirror, I had aged 10 years in a matter of hours! 

This was all due to the fact that my eyes did have a problem, but I had been in denial. All it took was the removal of the cataracts – the hindrances to literally “open my eyes” to reality!

That illustration is exactly the reason that I read the Bible every day. There are blind spots in my life that I don’t see. I think everything is just fine, until I read God’s Word and the truth jumps out at me like a cat behind the couch!

Psalm 119:18 says, Open thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law. Those “wondrous things” are many, including the character of God, but also my own sin. Without seeing my actions and words as sin, how else could I make it right? I would go blindly on in my sinful path. Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word. (Verse 9) Because God speaks to me through His Word, I can clearly see that I’m not obedient to His commands, and a “surgery” needs to happen to make it right.

I can remember one morning I was reading  1 John about the love of God. Oh, we revel in that, don’t we? As I was basking in the sweetness of God’s love for me, I read, I john 2 He that saith he is in the light, and hateth his brother, is in darkness even until now.

10 He that loveth his brother abideth in the light, and there is none occasion of stumbling in him.

11 But he that hateth his brother is in darkness, and walketh in darkness, and knoweth not whither he goeth, because that darkness hath blinded his eyes.

The Spirit of God used this to prick my heart. I didn’t hate anyone, but I was hurt and angry and felt justified in being distant and aloof. This was “walking in darkness.” 

I didn’t want to walk in the darkness! To return to the light was to confess my anger, and love my “brother.” This isn’t an easy step, is it? But here was the Truth and I had a choice to make – to continue in my darkness, or forgive and walk in the light. It was a surgery that was necessary, and I was thankful for the love of God Who pointed out the truth so I could see!

I just finished my third year of reading the Bible through using the chronological reading plan.  I have loved it so much. I have to admit that when I first started it, I was afraid that I would get bogged down and quit, because I knew we would be in the Old Testament for a long time, but that was not the case. The chronological plan “made sense.” I could see the timeline and understand the story so much better reading it “in order, rather than reading part of the Old Testament and also part of the New Testament, as I had done for several years.

As I read, my eyes and ears are on alert to answer the question, “What does this passage teach me about God?” When a truth about Him is found, I write it in my paper journal. I may find several; I may find one overarching truth. Then when I finish that day’s reading, I add those truths to the Bible app where you can “Talk it over.” That discipline of adding it to the app keeps me on track. It’s also a great marker at the end of the year! I slide through the days and read what I added there, and I can see the things God taught me all right there! This year I saw that the love and mercy of God was repeated again and again. I also saw that Jesus is enough was a common theme. 

How those truths bless me and guide me! They bring light and clearer vision!

I’m working on a project to produce a notebook specifically for reading the chronological plan and then writing there what I learned about the character of God. There will also be a place for daily prayer requests and praises. If you think of it, would you pray that the Lord will allow this to get printed? I would love to make this available to you as a resource for your spiritual growth.

Don’t let reading through the entire Bible overwhelm you. Do it the same way you live your life as a child of God – one day at a time. Ask God to give you a hunger for His Word, then every day, get up and allow the Surgeon to remove the scales from your eyes so you can walk in the light!

I love reading in a group – it’s challenging and helps give accountability. You can join our reading plan by going to my blog and following the link to join us! I will put a link in the show notes of today’s podcast. Even if you start past January 1, you can still join us!

As you read, you might be surprised that you’re not seeing quite as clearly as you thought you were! Let’s endeavor to allow the Word of God to penetrate our hearts and correct our spiritual vision in 2025!

What is your plan for reading the Bible in 2025? I’d love to hear!