Your Eye Is Your Window

Is Christ's light within you? I pray that others will see Him through you. Let Christ be the lamp of your eye. I'm praying for you.

www.jeffhoracek.com

The Window of the Soul

“ “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  

 

“The eye, which is called the window of the soul, is the principal means by which the central sense can most completely and abundantly appreciate the infinite works of nature; and the ear is the second, which acquires dignity by hearing of the things the eye has seen.” —Leonardo da Vinci, “Notebook IX”

 

     As an Optometrist for over thirty years, I have peered intently into thousands of eyes, most healthy, but some, very sick. The eye is truly a wonder to behold and is a magnificent example of the creative genius of God. Indeed, an eye can say a lot about the overall health and well-being of an individual. Although I cannot say I’ve ever seen a person’s soul, the eye is certainly a direct and most powerful sensory link to the brain, and the eyes certainly display our emotions, personality, character, intentions, and certainly our general health and well-being.

     Many have been credited with the quote, “The eye is the window of the soul,” including Shakespeare, da Vinci, and a myriad of others, and note that the specific phrase does not occur in the Bible, although it is certain to be its inspiration. Probably the earliest recorded quote is that of da Vinci, but unfortunately, he is typically misquoted from the above full quotation, being paraphrased without the “which is called,” so it appears erroneously as if he himself is making the statement, but in reality, he is simply recounting that which was taken to be already well-known. The phrase most likely originates via inspiration from the Bible passage, then transforming into an old French proverb which stated that “The eye is the mirror of the soul,” and then into an old English proverb, “The eye is the window of the soul.” Hence, the idea was long established. Incidentally, the phrase is typically seen stated as “the window to the soul,” which has a significantly different connotation; of implies looking outward, whereas to implies looking inward. Regardless, if the eye is our “lamp” as Jesus states, it both illuminates the outward that we perceive, and also illuminates that which is within us for others to see.

     Christ is telling us in the Bible passage that to perceive with your eyes is to perceive spiritually the things of God, and that which we assimilate with our perceptions becomes our inner essence—and it shows! If we have eyes for God, we have eyes that are pure, clean, noble, healthy, full of light and life, and our entire essence is as well. However, if we only have eyes for the things of the world, then we too, will only be filled with darkness and despair. Feast your eyes only upon the light and love of Jesus Christ and you will be healthy and full of light yourself.   

www.jeffhoracek.com

Hope and a Future

God has a unique and special plan, just for you, to prosper you in every way, and regardless of your past, to give you new hope and a new future. Connect with God today. I'm praying for you.

www.jeffhoracek.com

Redeeming the Time

“When I was a child, I laughed and wept,

Time crept;

When as a youth, I dreamed and talked,

Time walked;

When I became a full grown man,

Time ran;

When older still I daily grew,

Time flew;

Soon I shall be traveling on,

Time gone.”

—Author Unknown

 

     The sand in the hourglass of our time is sifting steadily away. Have you contemplated where you have been and where you are going? Are you moving forward in the will of God, fulfilling His mission and purpose for your life? If not, it’s time to start. It’s introspection and evaluation time—it’s time to make the grade and to fulfill your destiny, and to live it out with passion. Make today the day, for tomorrow you may be traveling on.

 

“Therefore be careful how you walk, not as unwise men but as wise, making the most of your time, because the days are evil. So then do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.” Ephesians 5:15–17 NASB

www.jeffhoracek.com

Your New Heart and Spirit

It's time, beloved child of God, to exchange your damaged heart for a heart filled with God's love, peace, and joy. And He'll give you a new spirit, connected with Him, that will let you soar to the highest limits. Connect with God today. I'm praying for you.

www.jeffhoracek.com

Revolutionary Resolution

     Well, it’s that time again when many of us make well intended, albeit superficial, resolutions for this new year. We resolve to exercise more, eat nutritionally, be the better person, and be more successful, but oftentimes, these noble resolutions fail to make it through the year. Here’s a novel idea—how many of us resolve to become more spiritual and closer to God for this upcoming year?

     Note what famous Bible commentator Matthew Henry wrote in his journal on January 1, 1705, hundreds of years ago, yet timeless still:

 

“Not renouncing, but repeating and ratifying all my former Covenants with God, and lamenting it, that I have not lived up more closely to them; I do in the beginning of this New Year solemnly make a fresh surrender of myself, my whole self, body, soul, and spirit, to God the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, my Creator, Redeemer, and Sanctifier, covenanting and promising, not in any strength of my own, for I am very weak, but in the strength of the grace of Jesus Christ, that I will endeavour this year to stand complete in all the Will of God.

 

I know this is the Will of God, even my sanctification; Lord grant that this year I may be more holy, and walk more closely than ever in all holy conversation; I earnestly desire to be filled with thy holy thoughts, to be carried out in holy affections, determined by holy aims and intentions, and governed in all my words and actions by holy principles. O that a golden thread of holiness may run through the whole web of this year.”

 

     A radical, revolutionary resolution. Maybe we should take note. Maybe, this year, we should resolve to implement the same.

www.jeffhoracek.com

My Prayer for the New Year

     O LORD God Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, You have made all things new! Wonderful are the works of Your hands, marvelous to behold, awesome in power and might. May I walk in the newness that You have set before me, for I, too, am made new in Christ, a new creation, living and breathing in the image of You. This is a new year. I shed the skin of the old person and have resolved to live in the fullness of You. You have removed my heart of stone and given me Your heart of flesh. You have awakened the dead spirit within me and have empowered me to do Your good works. I cast off the old and choose each day to put on the newness of You. Thank You, O LORD, for the amazing work that You have begun in me and will see to its completion and perfection, for You are the author and the finisher of my faith.

     I hold on dearly to Your promises and pledge each day to wash my mind with Your Word and become the vessel that You can mightily use. I trust that You will be with me to surmount every obstacle, overcome every hardship, provide for my every need, bring success and prosperity from the toil of my mind and hands, with great health and total wellness each day. May I progress evermore into the image of You and be a loving, caring, and godly person of impeccable character and integrity. May my heart never be insensitive to those I love and those around me, and may my priorities always follow Your order. My hope is in You, LORD, and my prayer is that this will be the best year that You have graciously given to me. May Your blessings flow.

     Thank You, O LORD, for all You’ve done and Your best that’s yet to come. In the holy name of Jesus, I send up this prayer.

Prayers and blessings,

Jeff

www.jeffhoracek.com

New Beginnings

“Begin; to have begun makes the work half done. Half still remains; again begin this, and you will complete the task.”
—Ausonius

“What you can do, or dream you can, begin it.
Boldness has genius, power and magic in it.
Only engage, and then the mind grows heated;
Begin it and the task will be completed.”
—Goethe
      It’s a new year, a new start, new beginnings. This can be your best year ever, regardless of your circumstances. Don’t let the past dictate your future and don’t let failures and disappointments rule your life. If you can dream it, begin it! Don’t make resolutions without substance, take action and implement God’s plan. Isaiah 43:19 says, “See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.” God is preparing the way for you—engage in it and make this year your best year ever. God is with you and God will never fail, and next year you’ll look back and be astonished at what you’ve accomplished in the hands of God. “Your beginnings will seem humble, so prosperous will your future be” (Job 8:7).
Prayers and blessings,
Jeff
www.jeffhoracek.com