I Want the Vision of an Eagle

When I saw this graphic on a friend’s FB post last week, I knew I wanted to retract my words on a New Year’s Eve blog that I made about desirng to have 20/20 vision for 2020.

I had another “epiphany” (seems to be my word of the year). The graphic below is what I saw on my friend’s FB post. "I will not settle for 20/20 vision!" I learned something new. 20/20 vision is just normal vision. I want to have “eagle eye” vision. Eagle eye” describes the highly developed visual ability of bald eagles that can spot a moving rabbit almost a mile away. An eagle, flying at 1,000 foot altitude can spot prey almost 3 square miles. That’s what I call super powerful vision and I want it!

So if the eagle is known for its great vision, what about you and I? I know we can't see a long-way-off naturally. I'm talking about a spiritual "vision". In Proverbs 29:18, Solomon wrote, "Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keeps the law, happy is he." The word "vision" here means "a mental sight (i.e., a dream, revelation, mentally to perceive, contemplate). The word generally refers to a "divine vision" from God -- and so it means to understand the events happening around us, in the light of what the Bible says about the “times we’re living in”. This scripture puts it into words that surely we should SEE with eagle-eye vision: "But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God -- having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with them." (II Timothy 3:1-5).

That surely puts into divine perspective what it looks like in these times. It's true Bible prophecy and when we open our "eagle" eyes and recognize it as truth, we’ll really start to perceive the future, and take warning. Many people lack understanding and spiritual insight. They lack "vision." They also lack "perception" of the things of God -- the deeper truths, and the more profound understandings. They cannot "see afar off.' They are hindered by spiritual near-sightedness.

I know this isn’t my usual “dancing in the rain” kind-of-blog, but deep inside, I pray for us all to have "eagle" eyes. As believers we have the Holy Spirit living on the inside of us so we do have God’s eyes available to us to see things from His perspective. As we start to draw closer to the Lord in our own personal relationship with Him, there will be times that He will allow us to start “seeing” what certain Scripture verses may mean. We will start to “see” what the real truth is in many matters of our own personal life. When that kind of seeing starts to occur, we know that it is the Holy Spirit Himself allowing us to see through His eyes, not our eyes. It's God Himself literally allowing us to see things from His point of view and perspective.

In John 8:31-32, Jesus said, “If you abide in My word, you are truly My disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” But we first have to see what that truth is before it can set us free. In Proverbs 22:3, Solomon wrote, "A prudent man foresees the evil, and hides himself: but the simple pass on, and are punished.." This graphic says, “As citizens of the Kingdom, we must live beyond the norm. To do so, we must see what others do not see." Bring on that eagle vision, dear Lord, that is at least four times greater than our 20/20 vision. I desire that 20/5 vision. I want to see clearly the signs of the times -- ready to see as God sees and love as He loves and acts as He acts. Open my eyes, Lord! I want to see as YOU see!

20/20 Vision for 2020

2020 is almost here. I love that round number. My grandson, Payton, was born in 2000. No problem keeping up with his age. It’s the same end-two digits of the year. He’ll be 20 in 2020.

I enjoy studying numbers and their meaning in the Bible. Here are some clues for what we can expect in the new year based on the number 20 in the Bible. First, the number 20 signifies expectancy or things to look forward to and it symbolizes the cycles of completeness. It is also often connected to a perfect period of waiting, labor or suffering that is compared to a trial and rewarded. Jacob waited 20 years to get his wives and property in his possession and released from his father-in-law. Israel waited 20 years for deliverance through Samson. Solomon waited 20 years for the completion of two houses. May we have 20/20 vison for 2020 to be OUR year of dreams coming true, deliverances, and many accomplishments. It's up to us to stand strong and to believe it so!

In case you didn't know -- 2020 will be a Leap Year with 366 days in the year. That’s because the Earth actually takes 365 days 5 hours 48 minutes and 46 seconds to go completely around the sun. To keep the calendar cycle synchronized with the seasons, one extra day is added every four years as February 29th. It's called Leap Year because in 365-day years, fixed dates advance one day in the week per year. For example, Christmas fell on a Tuesday in 2018 and on a Wednesday in 2019. With the insertion of a “leap day”, dates (following February) advance two days instead of one. In 2020, Christmas will leap over Thursday to fall on a Friday. Good news – a longer holiday weekend! You’re welcome!

Whatever 2020 holds – and we know it will be a year of many ups and downs in politics, let’s not get that “ups and downs” mentality in our minds about our own lives. I'm NOT! I’ve got my 20/20 glasses on and my EXPECTORS expecting this to be a banner year when it comes to the goodness and faithfulness of our God Who holds our future and all that comes our way! I’m on the 20/20 expecting side of grace upon grace, mercy upon mercy, joy upon joy, peace upon peace, and overtaking us in powerful ways because we are on the same winning side as our God. Whatever 2020 holds for you and me is just about the same as it is for any minute, hour, day, month or year! We may not know what the future holds, but we know WHO holds our future and “Through our God, we shall do valiantly. It is HE Who will tread down our enemies.” (Psalm 60:12).

Happy New Year’s Eve and Happy and Blessed New Year to you and yours! Own it! Those blessings are ours for the speaking, acting and SEEING with 20/20 vision for 2020!