How can we apply the lesson of spiritual awareness in Mark 8:18 today? Setting the Scene Mark 8 finds the disciples worried about having only one loaf of bread in the boat. Jesus has just fed four thousand, yet they still fret over lunch. In that moment He says, “ ‘Having eyes, do you not see? And having ears, do you not hear? And do you not remember?’ ” (Mark 8:18). His question exposes a deeper issue than physical provision—spiritual awareness. What Spiritual Blindness Looks Like Today - Treating God’s Word as information instead of revelation - Forgetting answered prayers and past deliverances when a new problem arises - Letting cultural voices drown out Scripture’s authority - Confusing busyness in ministry with closeness to Jesus (Luke 10:40-42) - Expecting God to act only in familiar ways, missing His activity in the ordinary Steps to Cultivate Spiritual Awareness - Open the Word with expectation - “Open my eyes that I may behold wondrous things out of Your law.” (Psalm 119:18) - Read slowly; ask, “What does this reveal about God and about me?” - Pray for enlightened hearts - “That the God … may give you the Spirit of wisdom … so that the eyes of your hearts may be enlightened.” (Ephesians 1:17-18) - Remember God’s past works - “Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits.” (Psalm 103:2) - Keep a journal of answered prayer and providences - Guard against unbelief - “See to it, brothers, that none of you has a wicked heart of unbelief.” (Hebrews 3:12) - Reject cynical talk; speak faith-filled truth to one another - Obey promptly - “Be doers of the word, and not hearers only.” (James 1:22) - Spiritual insight grows as we walk in the light we already have (John 7:17) - Stay connected to the body of Christ - “Let us consider how to spur one another on toward love and good deeds.” (Hebrews 10:24-25) - Shared testimonies sharpen everyone’s vision Practical Daily Rhythm Morning - Before checking a screen, invite the Holy Spirit to tune your heart to God’s voice - Read a Gospel passage; note one attribute of Jesus to watch for through the day Midday - Pause for two minutes: breathe, thank God for one gift you’ve noticed, ask, “Lord, what are You doing around me right now?” Evening - Review the day with gratitude: where did you sense His guidance, conviction, or comfort? - Record even small moments—over time they train your eyes to see His hand Caution Signs We’re Losing Spiritual Awareness - Prayer becomes mechanical and brief - Scripture reading feels optional rather than essential - Complaints outnumber thank-yous - Sin is rationalized instead of confessed (1 John 1:9) - God’s presence feels distant yet entertainment feels urgent Encouraging Promise Whenever we turn to the Lord, “the veil is removed” (2 Corinthians 3:16). He is eager to apply His “salve to anoint your eyes so that you may see” (Revelation 3:18). Ask, trust, obey—your spiritual senses will grow sharper, and Mark 8:18 will shift from rebuke to joyful reality: eyes that truly see and ears that genuinely hear. |
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