Fill Mine Eyes

Michael E. Wood

August 25, 2015

For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord bestows favor and honor. No good thing does he withhold from those who walk uprightly.  O Lord of hosts, blessed is the one who trusts in you!   Psalm 84:11-12

“Temporal mercies are chiefly to be desired for the sake of spiritual, but spiritual mercies for themselves, and not for temporal advantages….. Temporal mercies are chiefly to be desired for the sake of spiritual blessings, and not their own…. The Christian, when praying for temporal things, should desire them for helps in his way and passage to heaven.  I do not say it is unlawful to desire life, health, and other comforts of this life, for the suitableness that these have to our natural affections, and to supply our outward necessities; but to desire them only for this is low and base, it is the mere cry of the creature.”  William Gurnall, The Christian in Complete Armour, Volume 2, p.428

The preceding quote may seem out of place in relation to the following prayer, as the heart of this poetic prayer is toward God Himself.  Yet, from past experience as well being in the process of growing in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, it seems that we by nature can easily fall into expecting temporal blessings as a result of our pursuit of knowing God. Yes, He promises to His children that no good thing will He withhold from those that walk uprightly, but we all have need to allow and accept from Him what He defines as good, as He is our chief Good.

Fill mine eyes with Thine own glory

Through Thy Word, O Help me see

More of You for Thine own pleasure;

Draw me by Thy Spirit’s plea.

Not for comfort or for temporal

Gains that profit not, or last:

In beholding more Thy beauty

Of Your image, darkly cast;

Help me run the race with patience,

Joyfully, till home with You,

With Your splendor thus transcending

All redeemed in every hue.