Having been raised in the country, I really enjoy being in the outdoors. Creeks, mountains, and nature are all things that give me a feeling of peace just thinking about them. I also enjoy traveling, and when traveling includes the scenic wonders of nature and the outdoors, well, that’s just my idea of a perfect combination!
One of my most favorite places to travel is to the mountains of East Tennessee. My mom and dad began taking me there when I was just a little girl, and I have never lost my awe and appreciation for the artistic wonders of God, the Creator, that are to be beheld while driving those scenic byways.
Along the drive, there are overlooks that offer spectacular views of the mountains and the valleys below. As a child, one of my fascinations was with the viewing towers that were stationed at these overlooks. These viewing towers were oversized binoculars that people could look through. For a deposit of twenty-five cents, you could unlock the ability to see farther and in greater detail than could ever be obtained by the natural eye. Being so small, my daddy would take me in his arms and hold me up so I could see. My excitement would build as he placed the quarter in the slot. Then the lens would open, and suddenly, I was given access to a grander view than I could ever have imagined! The view without the aid of the binoculars was already amazing, but through those lenses, I could see in greater detail. There were rocks, streams, and even animals that were brought into view.
Daddy would point out things for me to locate. “Look over there,” he would say. “That’s where we’re going.” With my natural eyes all I could see would be the trees and hills, but through that viewing tower, I could see the road that was winding through those trees and hills. I was still looking through my natural eyes, but that twenty-five cent deposit opened the lens that gave my eyes an ability to see beyond.
As we travel through this life, there are things that we see from a natural perspective, and for the most part, many believe that’s the full view. But that’s not all there is to see. If our focus is drawn exclusively to the things that are happening around us, we will be captured by the limitation of our human understanding. Such focus causes many to be emotionally driven, which can often lead to fear, hopelessness, frustration, and defeat. But God has deposited His Holy Spirit in us, and by Him, we are given the ability to see things through spiritual eyes that cannot be seen through the filters of our natural understanding. God has us on His path of purpose and destiny for our lives, and He has not limited us to the boundaries of this world. We have been given access to a grander view. There are details, wisdom, and revelation that give clarity and direction for where we are going that can only be revealed by seeing through the eyes of the Spirit. There are obstacles that will be exposed, resources that are to be found, strategies that can be received, connections that can be made, ideas that can be had—things that God has prepared for us to see when we choose to look through this spiritual lens.
In the book of Second Kings, we find an account that illustrates this powerful ability that we have been given by the empowerment of Holy Spirit to see beyond.
When the servant of the man of God arose early and went out, there was an army surrounding the city with horses and chariots. And his servant said unto him, “Alas, my master! What shall we do?” So, he answered, “Do not fear; for those who are with us are more than those who are with them.” And Elisha prayed, and said, “Lord, I pray, open his eyes that he may see.” Then the Lord opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw. And, behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha (2 Kings 6:15-17, emphasis mine).
For Elisha and his servant, the situation surrounding them seemed to lead to an inevitable conclusion of defeat; however, God had made a way for victory. The servant saw the situation through natural eyes, and he was captivated by fear and hopelessness. Elisha saw things through spiritual eyes; therefore, he was not moved by fear of what was happening in the natural. Elisha saw beyond the natural realm, and by the Spirit, he could see God’s provision for deliverance and was able to access strategy and understanding that gave him the ability to advance with God’s intended victory.
In this extreme time, we must allow Holy Spirit to readjusted our focus so that we can see beyond—beyond what is raging around us, beyond what is assumed based on what we see raging around us, beyond fear that has entered because of an obsessive focus on what is raging around us. God has revealed His verdict for America: She shall be saved! Through Christ, we are more than conquerors. These are His prophetic promises, and He speaks with intent to perform. There is victory and transformation that God has intended for our nation and for our world, and there is a remnant that is now beginning to move into it as we allow Holy Spirit to open our spiritual eyes so that we can see things from Heaven’s perspective! We are accessing Godly wisdom and revelation that gives us the ability to advance with God’s intended victory. We are not afraid of nor distracted by the enemy’s tactics. We are alert and focused on Christ, and by His Spirit, He leads us and always causes us to triumph.
Let’s Pray:
Father, the words You have spoken over us and over this nation are true! Not one word from Your mouth will be left unfulfilled. What You have determined will be established! Your Ekklesia stands with authority and unflinching resolve to declare Your words over and above every contrary word, opinion, and circumstance. By faith, we access all that Holy Spirit imparts to us to give us clarity and direction for where we are going. We look to You. We do not view things through the lens of our emotions. We do not operate from a place where we think we are losing the battle. Our eyes are open to see and know that You have already secured our victory. We do not deny that bad things are happening in our world, but those things do not move us. We allow Your truth to set us free from fear and uncertainty. We rise above the fray, we look beyond the chaos, and we confidently move with Heaven’s strategies to advance with You! And through us, You will firmly enforce Your verdict that America shall be saved!
We decree:
We have eyes to see beyond the chaos, and we are fully persuaded that God is with us . . . And the gates of hell will not prevail against us!
