In the Word: The Light of My Eyes

Welcome to Hope Mommies In the Word devotionals. Over the next few weeks, we will be meditating on Psalm 19 together. As we study these truths together, we’d love you to use the comments as a place to dialogue with us about what you are learning and share your answers to the questions below. We pray that you hearts will be encouraged as you dig into God’s Word each week with us! 

“the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes”
Psalm 19:8b

READ:

Do you feel with the psalmist: “My heart throbs; my strength fails me, and the light of my eyes—it also has gone from me” (Psalm 38:10)? The Word of God with its power strengthens the heart and mind; the purity of God’s Word enlightens the eyes—as it is approached with humility. If I came to the Word of God with a stubborn, prideful self-exaltation that I might just know better than it, or presuming I can select only pieces of it to believe (to the exclusion of other pieces), I wouldn’t expect that I would be able to receive very much (James 4:6; Proverbs 9:10).

But if I approach the Word of God humbly, knowing I can bring nothing to God, asking that I might be helped by Him, that I might learn peace through seeing His exaltation and worth—then I will find my eyes enlightened by the Spirit. God is extraordinarily tender and patient; also, He is always just and true.

As part of coming to Scripture, I should expect to be taught about how to abandon my sins—the Lord’s words teach me about what is pure and I am not pure in and of myself (2 Timothy 3:16). I have no reason to believe that personal sin caused my loss (John 9:2-3); separately, I know that sensitive grief also does not make me exempt from the capability to sin. So I am glad to be led to repentance through the Word. Confessing my sins to God brings me closer to knowing Him in my heart, and it makes me more pleasing in my conduct to Him. It enlightens my eyes to the purity for which my heart was made. It refreshes me in His kindness and forgiveness (Romans 2:4), which are the basis for my joyful obedience to Him (1 John 5:3).

When all of our strength is gone, we can ask for His grace and find that this brings a purity into our lives. It gives an assured glow behind the eyes. It gives fuel when all other strength is gone, because the purity of the Word of God is food, without which spiritual starvation occurs. Having a growing hunger for righteousness means you, sister, are blessed by His light (Matthew 5:4).

REFLECT:

1. How might confessing your sins to the Lord allow you to approach His Word with greater humilty?
2. Do you find yourself hungering after righteousness? In what ways can you grow in your desire for purity of heart?

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