Make a Covenant with Your Eyes

Daily Devotional – Saturday, October 15, 2022
I have made a covenant with my eyes…
Job 31:1 (NKJV

One habit I have come to appreciate in my life is having self-talks. These are lonely meetings between me and myself! Does it even make sense? Yes. There are moments when you have to be your best critic, counselor and motivator. Making a covenant with yourself is critical for self-growth.

I Have Made a Covenant With My Eyes

Consider the example of Job. In the midst of his excruciating pain, while in the company of friends who misunderstand him, Job states, “I have made a covenant with my eyes. Why then should I look upon a young woman?” (Job 31:1).

A covenant binds two parties, usually God and man or two human beings. Each of the parties has a complementary role to play for the covenant to remain in force. What, then, does Job mean when he says he has made a covenant with his eyes?

The Lamp of the Body is the Eye

Job means that He has reflected on his weaknesses vis-à-vis the demands of God’s perfect law and decided not to lead himself into the temptation of sexual immorality. His eyes are his covenant partners, as it were.

Job understands that, “The lamp of the body is the eye. If therefore your eye is good, your whole body will be full of light. But if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness.” (Matthew 6:22-23).

Agreeing with Your Eyes

The thought that constitutes sin and which may or may not manifest itself through action, enters the mind through the senses, sight being one of them. When we allow our eyes to dwell on ungodly themes, we soon fall into the snare of the devil.

If Job lived in our society, he would make a covenant with his eyes not to watch unwholesome television programmes. He would not set his eyes on pornography or read books and magazines laced with sexual messages and images.

Make a Covenant with Your Eyes

Thankfully, we have the Holy Spirit of God through whom we can meet these criteria for God-approved thoughts:
“whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.” (Philippians 4:8).

Have you made a covenant with your eyes to dwell only on themes that please Him?

Prayer
Lord Jesus, I have made a covenant with my eyes not to sin against you. Give me grace and power to keep my promise.