Can You Discern Spiritual Seasons? (Eyes to see; Ears to hear)

In our spiritual walk, having eyes to see and ears to hear is essential for discerning God’s truth and recognizing His presence in our daily lives. However, blindness and deafness are not just physical conditions—they are often spiritual issues that stem from the condition of our hearts.

Spiritual Blindness and Deafness Are Heart Issues (Eyes to See; Ears to Hear)

Jesus spoke about this in Matthew 13:15, saying:

"For this people's heart has grown dull, and with their ears they can barely hear, and their eyes they have closed, lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and turn, and I would heal them."

When our hearts are hardened, we lose the ability to recognize God’s voice, His movements, and His truth. This spiritual dullness can prevent us from receiving the healing and direction that God desires to give us.

Two Areas That Can Distract Us From Seeing and Hearing Clearly

We often get preoccupied with two major distractions that hinder our ability to see and hear spiritually:

1. Our Own Cares

Life’s burdens—family struggles, work pressures, financial stress, and health issues—can consume our focus. In Mark 4, Jesus tells the Parable of the Sower, explaining how the Word of God can be choked by worldly cares:

"And others are the ones sown among thorns. They are those who hear the word, but the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches and the desires for other things enter in and choke the word, and it proves unfruitful." (Mark 4:18-19)

2. Agendas of Others

We can also become so entangled in cultural, political, racial, and even church-related agendas that we miss what God is doing. Ecclesiastes 3 reminds us:

"To everything there is a season."

As believers, we cannot afford to join in every fight or movement just because it aligns with human reasoning. We must discern the seasons and follow God’s leading, lest we miss His voice.

The Danger of a Hardened Heart

When we are consumed by our cares or external agendas, our hearts can become hardened to truth—even when it is right in front of us.

Consider the story of Jesus healing the man with the withered hand in Mark 3:4:

"And he said to them, 'Is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good or to do harm, to save life or to kill?' But they were silent."

Even in the presence of a miracle, their hardened hearts kept them from acknowledging the truth.

Missing What God is Doing in the Now

Spiritual blindness and deafness can cause us to overlook the new things God is doing in our lives. Instead of being led by His Spirit, we may find ourselves stuck in old mindsets, missing divine opportunities and moments of transformation.

We Were Created to Partner With God

God calls us to be His hands and feet in the world. This means partnering with Him, not just in judgment, but in love and grace.

It’s easy to think that we are doing God's work simply by opposing what He opposes. However, Jesus challenges us in Matthew 5:43-45:

"You have heard that it was said, 'You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you."

Even when we stand against evil, we are not called to partner with hate. Instead, we should pray for those who oppose us, not rejoice in their downfall.

Consider Luke 9:54-55, when a Samaritan village rejected Jesus:

"James and John turned to Him and said, 'Lord, do You want us to command fire to come down from heaven and consume them, just as Elijah did?' But He turned and rebuked them, and said, 'You do not know what manner of spirit you are of. For the Son of Man did not come to destroy men’s lives but to save them.'"

A Call to Prayer and Self-Examination

As believers, we are called to pray always (Luke 18:1). But before we pray for change in others, we must first ask God to search our own hearts.

Psalm 139:23-24 offers this powerful prayer:

"Search me, O God, and know my heart; try me, and know my thoughts: and see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting."

Final Thoughts

To truly have eyes to see and ears to hear, we must: ✔️ Guard our hearts from distractions and hardened attitudes.✔️ Discern the times and seasons, ensuring we are in alignment with God’s will.✔️ Love and pray for our enemies, resisting the urge to seek vengeance.✔️ Continually ask God to search our hearts and remove anything that hinders our spiritual vision.

When we do this, we position ourselves to be in partnership with God, walking in His truth, love, and power. May we all have eyes to see and ears to hear what the Spirit is saying in this hour. Amen.