Seems like just yesterday I was opining about all things open. And actually, I believe it was yesterday literally. So today as I wrestle with the cap on my green tea bottle, trying to get my drink open, my thoughts turn again to all things open – not the least in importance being my Lipton green tea, which I want to see successfully opened. This is a battle I engage in often – fighting stuck and stubborn lids on jars and bottles as I attempt to open them.

There are other things that need opening also, like my front door, which often sticks, so I can’t get the key to turn, making it impossible to open my own front door. I like things that are “open.” I love the open road, open enrollment, an open forum, open dialogue, when the radio person says, “the phone lines are open, be the ? caller and win ?” – when an employer says, “we have an opening” or a moderator says, “let’s open up the floor for questions” or it’s “open mic night” or “open auditions for whatever it might be.” Something about an opening implies possibility, implies promise, implies hope. We all prefer an open door, as opposed to one slammed in our face.

Yesterday I opined over open hearts and open minds while leaving out open eyes. Seems like a gross oversight on my part. (pun intended) I don’t want to turn a blind eye to what God would have me to see clearly. King David asked this of God,

“Open my eyes that I may see wonderful things in Your law.” (Psalm 119:18)

Isaiah talks about what God will do in Isaiah 35:5-6 when he says,

“Then will the eyes of the blind be opened and the ears of the deaf unstopped. Then will the lame leap like a deer, and the mute tongue shout for joy. Water will gush forth in the wilderness and streams in the desert.”

That’s a lot of opening! – the opening of eyes, ears and mouths formerly mute – plus streams opening up in the desert. All miraculous openings. And in Isaiah 42:7 he says,

“to open eyes that are blind, to free captives from prison and to release from the dungeon those who sit in darkness.”

God opens eyes and dungeon doors – He opens heaven to all who believe on His name. God opened Hagar’s eyes when she and her son were alone in the desert facing certain death. But “Then God opened her eyes and she saw a well of water. So she went and filled the skin with water and gave the boy a drink.” (Genesis 21:19)

Like Hagar, I may often miss what is right in front of me, if I don’t allow God to open my eyes to see as He sees. This is important because – “The Lord does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” (1 Samuel 16:7)

My Heavenly Father is the One who opens my eyes so that I can see Him at work in this world, He opens my ears so that I can hear His voice, He opens my heart so that I can receive His Holy Spirit, He opens the doors of any and all prisons that attempt to hold me captive. My Heavenly Father says,

“I will go before you and will level the mountains; I will break down gates of bronze and cut through bars of iron.” (Isaiah 45:2)

Truly, He opens the way before me, moving my mountains and making a way for me where there was no way. Thank You, Heavenly Father, – You opened Your mouth and spoke this universe into existence. Thank You that You welcome this prodigal with open arms. I am on my way home!

“But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.” (Luke 15:20)

Our Creator waits to welcome you and me, dear readers, with open arms –

sincerely, Grace Day