Watch and pray (Mark 14:38)
We do it because the Bible said so. This is a basis for a number of actions and tasks that form the Christian life, individually and collectively. Why do we gather together? Because the bible said so. Why do we sing songs? Because the Bible said so. Why do we read scripture? Errrrrr … because … the scripture said so. Why do we love each other? Because the Bible said so. Why do we close our eyes in prayer? Because the Bible didn’t say so ….
… Wait, what?
That action of closing the eyes to pray is, for so many of us, like second nature. If we’re praying, we have got to close our eyes. Some folks go in the car and won’t start the engine until they’ve prayed, because they’ve got to close their eyes to pray.
Why? Why is it so prevalent? Why is it so embedded in us that it would genuinely surprise us that there is no biblical instruction to do so? Especially when the norm is more likely that people prayed with their eyes wide open. Jesus Himself, our great example, would look up and pray.
Don’t get me wrong, I’m not going to start a campaign against closed-eyed prayer. Well, I might have done so already, but you wouldn’t have known because I’d have done it when your eyes were closed. In any case, imagine the wonder of being able to hold a conversation with God in reverence and humility with your eyes open. As though you could commune with God right where you were without skipping a beat. Consider what it would be like to converse with Him and not to keep your eyes tight shut because the things around you did not distract you from Him, but helped to turn to Him, recognising He created all that your eyes saw.
I remember the crime it was to have your eyes open when in the company of the other saints and someone was praying. Why are your eyes open? was the unsaid accusatory glance of someone who would only know your eyes were open in prayer, because their eyes were open! We must show reverence to God by closing our eyes was the implicit instruction as though it carried the authority of the Most High Himself by His Holy Word. As though He was always about people closing their eyes in His presence.
But that does begin to encourage something worthwhile about the approach to communing with God with the eyes closed. For with the eyes closed, look what we can see. We can see the throne room in all its splendour. We can see the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world. We can see ourselves glorified before Him with our robes in white and our crown of righteousness ready to throw at His feet. We can see His perspective on things. We can behold the glory and wonder of His majesty as we make our appeal and our praise, our petition and our adoration fully expressed to Him. We can see the world where there will be no night and all sin, sorrow, sickness, and sadness will be forever erased, and only righteousness will rule, and only peace will be present. We can see that with our eyes shut.
Now God encourages us to work towards that with our eyes open and realise that we can just as effectively get on with the prayer life with those eyes wide open to see what He sees.
But don’t take my word for it – what does the Bible say?
For His Name’s Sake
C. L. J. Dryden
Shalom
Next Steps
Reflect: How did you learn to pray? Why is praying with your eyes closed considered important in prayer?
Pray: Open our eyes, Lord. We want to see Jesus. To reach out and touch Him and tell Him that we love Him. Open our ears, Lord. Help us to listen. Open our eyes, Lord. We want to see Jesus.
Act: Observe what your prayer life would be like if you spent a week praying with your eyes open in all settings. Make a note of the experience and share it with someone who should hopefully read it with their eyes open, prayerfully.
