“Give me life.”
Have you ever thought about how many images your eyes process daily?
A team of neuroscientists at MIT discovered the human brain can process complete images the eye views for as little as 13 milliseconds. A millisecond is 1/1000 of a second. A hummingbird flaps its wings 200 times in one second.
Going to work. In the grocery store. Scrolling on our phones.
Our brain absorbs every image we even glance at.
“Turn my eyes from worthless things, and give me life through your word” (Psalm 119:37, NLT).
King David, the most likely author of Psalm 119, loaded the song with prayer requests tender toward God’s Word. In verse 37, we see an ask for supernatural help to turn his eyes away from worthless things. The Amplified describes it this way, “Turn my eyes away from vanity [all those worldly, meaningless things that distract].”
When comparing the mock ten speed with which we live and the images we are exposed to daily over the camel’s pace of Biblical times, we might wonder, “What would David be concerned about his eyes beholding?”
His eyes may not have taken in as many images as we see today, but a fundamental truth lies at the base of his request. The Good News Translation uses “keep me from paying attention” instead of “turn away.”
What are we paying attention to?
Do we pay attention to the things that overflow our minds with courage? Images that restore our souls? Images that empower us for the next thing? Or do we overcrowd our minds with images that provoke anxiousness? Images that drain our souls? Images that seem appealing in the moment, but hold us back for the next thing?
The images we intentionally and knowingly gaze at, we recognize, and remember these images. But what about all the ones we have allowed into our souls that we don’t remember seeing, but our brain captured and gave the image a place to live?
“The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are healthy, your whole body will be full of light.” Matthew 6:22, NIV
David knew that what he looked at would impact his life. Jesus echoed the wisdom of Psalm 119:37 when he taught us in the Sermon on the Mount the vital role our eye has in the health of our whole body.
Remember the hymn, “Be careful little eyes, what you see?”
“Turn my eyes from worthless things, and give me life through your word” (Psalm 119:37, NLT).
King David knew his eyes were prone to wonder and asked for help to turn his head and pay attention to more beneficial things. He complemented his requests for self-control with a second request.
“Give me life through your word.” The Amplified puts it this way, “—let Your priorities be mine], And restore me [with renewed energy] in Your ways.” David saw the Word of God as a worthwhile refocus, life-giving, energizing source to behold.
Our perception of God’s Word will influence how often we turn to His Word.
Life-giving or meh?
What if we believed God’s Word to be breathtaking, and our thoughts throughout the day were drawn to, “When can I read God’s Words for me again?” What if each day was orchestrated around times when we could run to God’s Word and indulge?
If God’s Word is life-giving, we would recognize the remarkable benefits and gravitate more towards time in His Word.
What if there is a connection between what we look at and our ability to appreciate God’s Word for the value His Word brings to our lives?
Oh, be careful, little eyes, what you see,
Oh, be careful, little eyes, what you see.
There’s a Father up above looking down in tender love,
Oh, be careful, little eyes, what you see.
(Children’s Hymn)
I pray that your eyes will be opened to the extraordinary life-giving, transforming Word of God so that you will be drawn to His Word more than your favorite thing. May God empower you to turn your eyes to only the things that will fill your body with goodness, strengthen you for your journey, and bring joy to your soul. In Jesus’ name, so be it.
Meditate: Your Word is Life Giving.
Reflect: What do you need to turn your eyes away from? What captures your attention? How can you foster a fancy for God’s Word?
Deeper: (As you read through these additional verses, ask the Spirit to give you wisdom and teach you more about the value God’s Word brings to your life.) Psalm 119: 33-40, John 6:60-63, Proverbs 4:20-22 (NLT)
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(Bible References: NLT – New Living Translation, NIV – New International Version, AMP – Amplified Version)
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