Enlightenment

Ephesians 1:18-19~"I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you will know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe."

I have been meditating on those verses from Ephesians, pondering what it means for the eyes of my heart to be enlightened. In one sense, it seems as if this verse is speaking about the eyes of the heart being enlightened in order to understand one's need for Christ. Thayer defines the word enlightened as follows: "To cause something to exist and thus come to light and become clear to all." Based on this definition, perhaps true enlightenment involves a realization of what Christ has done, and yet also a determination to change and become conformed to the image of Christ.

I have gradually been coming to the realization that I make everything about me. Obvious observation, I know. I SAY that I want my life to be all about Jesus, but in reality I am focusing on myself. If my motives truly WERE to bring glory and honor to Christ, I wouldn't be doing a lot of things I do or adopting certain attitudes that are not Christ-like. Deep down, I feel like I don't love Jesus. But deep down, I WANT to love Jesus! I WANT to return to the deep intimacy I once shared with Him. I desire for Christ to enlighten the eyes of my heart, illuminating the glory of His presence within my cold, darkened heart. Only by the light of His glory can I find true warmth, grace, and love.

1 John 3:1~"See how great a love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God; and such we are."

"You, my God, are supreme, utmost in goodness, mightiest and all-powerful, most merciful and most just. You are the most hidden from us and yet the most present amongst us, the most beautiful and yet the most strong, ever enduring and yet we cannot comprehend you. You are unchangeable and yet you change all things. You are never new, never old, and yet all things have new life from you. You are the unseen power that brings decline upon the proud. You are ever active, yet always at rest. You gather all things to yourself, though you suffer no need. You support, you fill, and you protect all things. You create them, nourish them, and bring them to perfection. You seek to make them your own, though you lack for nothing. You love your creatures, but with a gentle love. You treasure them, but without apprehension. You grieve for wrong, but suffer no pain. You can be angry and yet serene. Your works are varied, but your prupose is one and the same. You welcome all who come to you, though you never lost them. You are my God, my Life, my holy Delight, but is this enough to say of you? Can any man say enough when he speaks of you? Yet woe betide those who are silent about you! For even those who are most gifted with speech cannot find words to describe you."~St. Augustine