Lord,

open my ears, my eyes, my mind, my heart, my spirit to You –  to hear what You would speak, to see what You would show me, to learn what You would teach me, to believe all that You are, Your truth, and to receive Your presence, Your Holy Spirit.

open my hands, that I would not hold on so tightly to the things of this world with my fists clenched, closed to everything and to everyone, mirroring my heart – admitting no one –

open my hands, lay them out empty, with nothing to offer up, nothing to give in exchange, no longer full of my dreams and my plans, no longer full of self, palms toward heaven, ready to receive what You want to fill them with.  You alone are the Giver of every good gift.

and grant that I would be grateful for what You give, not wanting something more or something different as Eve did in the garden so long ago, but that I would be content because I trust in Your goodness and Your grace towards me, knowing that

“Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.”  (James 1:17)

“In them is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah:  ‘You will be ever hearing but never understanding; you will be ever seeing but never perceiving.  For this people’s heart has become calloused; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes.  Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts and turn, and I would heal them.’ ”  (Matthew 13:14-15)

I don’t want to be like the people Isaiah talked about Lord.  I cry out along with King David,  “Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.”  (Psalm 51:10)

and God says to me, “I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.  And I will put My Spirit in you and move you to follow My decrees and be careful to keep My laws.    . . .   you will be (Mine) My people, and I will be your God.  I will save you from all your uncleanness.”  (Ezekiel 36:26-29)

and I answer “Open my eyes that I may see wonderful things in Your law.  Teach me Your way, O Lord, and I will walk in Your truth; give me an undivided heart, that I may fear Your name.”  (Psalm 119:18 & Psalm 86:11)

sincerely,       Grace Day