God gave us eyes to see. Just as we see in the natural, so we can see spiritually.

My journey of seeing in the spirit started at the same time that I started hearing from the Lord. The two go hand in hand.

I hear more than I see. However, when I do see something, it catches my attention. Sometimes it’s a picture so clear that I can’t get it out of my mind. One time I saw gold coins. It ended being a prophetic word for a friend. Sometimes what I see appears as a “flash,” as if someone took a picture with the old flash bulbs that you inserted on cameras years ago. Then I wonder, “Did I really see that?”

Sometimes I think of an image. It’s like an image that appears in my imagination. I can’t get it out of my mind. Then I wonder, “Am I just imaging this?”

There is a spectrum of seeing in the spirit that ranges from an open vision to impressions. People often wonder, “What is an open vision?” An open vision is something so real that you’re seeing that you’re interacting with it. It’s really an encounter. It’s not something you merely see passively, but you’re a part of it.

Many people wonder if they can really trust what they see. I don’t know if that is any different than people wondering if they can really trust what they hear, but there is this sense that some people have an overactive imagination. Some of this may also stem from the practice of people being trained to imagine things. Whatever suspicion may come in connection with this gift, we should always remember that one of the definitions of the prophet in the Old Testament was a “seer.” The prophet saw things.

Some people see readily in the spirit from an early age, unfortunately, often both good and bad. Others have had to develop this gift. I have had to learn that while an involuntary powerful vision can leave an imprint on the mind as if it happened yesterday, I should not discount the “mere impressions” that come across my mind, however faint they may be. It is better not to try too hard to see something when you don’t as I believe we can conjure things up in our mind’s eye. Striving can open us up to unhealthy input.

Have fun with it. Test out your impressions with safe people. Sometimes there is strength in confirmation. Sometimes the Lord allows another person to see what we’re seeing so as to help us in our journey and to encourage us. Blessings to you as you exercise your eyes to see.

“But blessed are your eyes, for they see . . .” (Matthew 13:16)

By Ralph Veenstra