What steps can we take to avoid being "blind" or "deaf" as described? Setting the Scene “‘You have eyes—can you not see? You have ears—can you not hear?’” (Mark 8:18). Scripture warns that spiritual blindness or deafness is possible even for people surrounded by truth. Below are clear, practical steps to remain alert and responsive. Anchor Yourself in God’s Word • Daily, unhurried reading: “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path” (Psalm 119:105). • Repeated meditation: “I have hidden Your word in my heart that I might not sin against You” (Psalm 119:11). • Whole-Bible diet: take in narrative, poetry, prophecy, wisdom, Gospel, epistle—each part sharpens sight and hearing. Ask for Spirit-Given Illumination • Pray as the psalmist: “Open my eyes that I may behold wondrous things from Your law” (Psalm 119:18). • Depend on the Helper: “When He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all truth” (John 16:13). Respond with Immediate Obedience • “Be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves” (James 1:22). • Act upon even the smallest prompting; delayed obedience dulls spiritual senses. Guard the Condition of the Heart • Daily repentance: “Today, if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts” (Hebrews 3:15). • Keep bitterness and unconfessed sin cleared away; sin blurs vision and muffles hearing. • Cultivate gratitude—thankful hearts stay sensitive (1 Thessalonians 5:18). Stay in Close Fellowship • Mutual exhortation: “Encourage one another daily… so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness” (Hebrews 3:13). • Gather for Word-centered worship; collective praise tunes spiritual ears. • Invite accountability from mature believers who will point out blind spots. Practice Discernment and Testing • Measure every message by Scripture (Acts 17:11). • Reject false teaching quickly; error tolerated today becomes blindness tomorrow (2 Timothy 4:3-4). Remember God’s Works • Recount answered prayers and past deliverances (Psalm 103:2). • Regular testimony sharing helps keep eyes open to ongoing divine activity. Persevere in Hope • Fix eyes on the unseen: “We walk by faith, not by sight” (2 Corinthians 5:7). • Anticipate the day when faith becomes sight (1 John 3:2). By embracing these steps—Word-saturation, Spirit-dependence, quick obedience, heart-maintenance, fellowship, discernment, remembrance, and hope—we keep spiritual eyes clear and ears sharp, living alert to the voice and vision of the Lord. |
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