Vision (Not, “A Vision’) for 2023
“Can you see anything now?” (Jesus asked him.) The man looked around. “Yes,” he said, “I see people, but I can’t see them very clearly…” Jesus placed his hands on the man’s eyes again…. His sight was completely restored, and he could see everything clearly. (Mark 8:23-25)
Lord Jesus, this is the perfect story with which to begin 2023. So much of life centers around vision, especially what we see with “the eyes of our hearts” (Eph. 1:18). We want to see everything this year as you intend—through the lens of faith, grace, and hope.
First of all, we want to see you more clearly, Jesus, and more of you. You are the sun (Son) by which we see everything else with clarity, proportion, and in light of eternity. Dazzle us with your truth, goodness, and beauty. We only see your love with 20/100 vision, Jesus, please correct that to 20/20 this year.
Next, enable us to see people with Gospel-eyes—not merely in terms of what they can do for us, or what they’ve done to us. Everyone is made in your image—with a dignity that may be hidden by their brokenness, wounds, and a grace-void experience of you.
Jesus, help us see our pain, sorrows, and failures as you see them. Our worst moments don’t define us, and our current pain has an expiration date. Because we belong to you, we will be completely whole one Day. Blaming and shaming others for our misery will only increase ours. Let us see you in and over everything that hurts. Free us, and keep us free.
Lastly (for today’s prayer), we don’t want just to see—we want to smell, taste, and hear the wonders of our soon coming life in “the new heaven and new earth” (Rev. 21:1-5). Jesus, we want to live heavenly-hearted. Hallelujah, we are one day closer to the Day. So Very Amen.