Open My Eyes
Seeing the Bigger Work of God
In my late thirties, I prayed a simple but dangerous prayer:
“God, open my eyes so I can see more of You.”
At the time, I was pastoring a church—caught in the weekly rhythm of preaching, teaching, visiting the sick, leading men’s groups, and attending Christian events.
It was meaningful work. But it had become predictable. And deep down, I knew there was more. I wasn’t dissatisfied with God—I just sensed that my view of Him had become too small. I believed in a big God, but I was living in a limited experience of Him.
So I prayed for more. Not more activity. More vision.
Because a big God produces big results—
And a small view of God produces small expectations. God meets us at our level of faith. According to your faith be it unto you (Matthew 9:29). I was living at my low level of faith and my life was my evidence.
Five years later, everything shifted. Hurricane Rita disrupted life in Southeast Texas, and I relocated to the Midwest. Not long after, I received an unexpected call from an old friend who recommended me for a position with Prison Fellowship. I accepted.
My role was to recruit Christian men to walk alongside ex-offenders—men with backgrounds of violence, addiction, murder, and brokenness. These were individuals most people had written off. But God hadn’t. What I began to witness changed me. Lives being rebuilt. Families being restored. Men finding purpose. Communities being impacted.
It was like watching grace unfold in real time. I wasn’t just preaching about transformation anymore— I was seeing it. Touching it.
Walking in it.
God had answered my prayer. Not by changing my theology— but by expanding my vision.
It reminded me of the moment when the prophet Elijah prayed for his servant, who was overwhelmed by the enemy surrounding them.
“Lord, open his eyes so that he may see.”
(Kings 6:17)
And God did. What looked like defeat was actually divine protection. That’s what God did for me. He opened my eyes—not just to see problems, but to see His power at work in people’s lives.
To see trophies of grace.
To see that no one is beyond His reach.
And I’m still watching it today. So here’s what I’ve learned:
Pray big.
Think big.
Believe big.
Because when you ask God to open your eyes, He may not just show you more— He may place you right in the middle of what He’s doing.
Life is short.
Live.
The rest of your life can still be the best of your life.
Grace,
Finley
In my late thirties, I prayed a simple but dangerous prayer:
“God, open my eyes so I can see more of You.”
At the time, I was pastoring a church—caught in the weekly rhythm of preaching, teaching, visiting the sick, leading men’s groups, and attending Christian events.
It was meaningful work. But it had become predictable. And deep down, I knew there was more. I wasn’t dissatisfied with God—I just sensed that my view of Him had become too small. I believed in a big God, but I was living in a limited experience of Him.
So I prayed for more. Not more activity. More vision.
Because a big God produces big results—
And a small view of God produces small expectations. God meets us at our level of faith. According to your faith be it unto you (Matthew 9:29). I was living at my low level of faith and my life was my evidence.
Five years later, everything shifted. Hurricane Rita disrupted life in Southeast Texas, and I relocated to the Midwest. Not long after, I received an unexpected call from an old friend who recommended me for a position with Prison Fellowship. I accepted.
My role was to recruit Christian men to walk alongside ex-offenders—men with backgrounds of violence, addiction, murder, and brokenness. These were individuals most people had written off. But God hadn’t. What I began to witness changed me. Lives being rebuilt. Families being restored. Men finding purpose. Communities being impacted.
It was like watching grace unfold in real time. I wasn’t just preaching about transformation anymore— I was seeing it. Touching it.
Walking in it.
God had answered my prayer. Not by changing my theology— but by expanding my vision.
It reminded me of the moment when the prophet Elijah prayed for his servant, who was overwhelmed by the enemy surrounding them.
“Lord, open his eyes so that he may see.”
(Kings 6:17)
And God did. What looked like defeat was actually divine protection. That’s what God did for me. He opened my eyes—not just to see problems, but to see His power at work in people’s lives.
To see trophies of grace.
To see that no one is beyond His reach.
And I’m still watching it today. So here’s what I’ve learned:
Pray big.
Think big.
Believe big.
Because when you ask God to open your eyes, He may not just show you more— He may place you right in the middle of what He’s doing.
Life is short.
Live.
The rest of your life can still be the best of your life.
Grace,
Finley
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Great message ?