Making a covenant with your eyes means being intentional about what you allow your eyes to see and not see. It involves actively choosing to set your eyes on that which is honorable, pure, lovely, and praiseworthy (Philippians 4:8) and turning your eyes away from looking at what is evil (Psalm 101:3). Here are some key things the Bible teaches about making this covenant:
Recognizing the power of your eyes
Your eyes are incredibly powerful gateways to your soul. What you behold and gaze upon shapes your thoughts, desires, and actions more than you may realize. Jesus said “The eye is the lamp of the body. So, if your eye is healthy, your whole body will be full of light, but if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light in you is darkness, how great is the darkness!” (Matthew 6:22-23). Sin often begins with the eyes, as Eve’s desire was awakened when she saw the forbidden fruit was good for food and a delight to the eyes (Genesis 3:6). This is why controlling what you allow your eyes to see is critical.
Committing to purity
When you make a covenant with your eyes, you commit to only setting your eyes on that which is honorable and pure, avoiding intentional lustful looking. Job said “I have made a covenant with my eyes; how then could I gaze at a virgin?” (Job 31:1). In Job’s day, leering at a virgin was a common practice, but he refused to indulge his fleshly desires this way. Making this covenant means actively avoiding pornography, erotic movies and images, and gawking lustfully at others. It also involves not letting your eyes lead you into coveting what belongs to others (Exodus 20:17). You take responsibility for your eyes and commit to purity.
Guarding your heart
The goal of making a covenant with your eyes is to guard your heart. Jesus said “For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, slander” (Matthew 15:19). Sinful deeds flow out from sinful desires that originate in your heart. Setting a guard over what you allow your eyes to see helps protect your heart from wrong desires. When you make this covenant, you admit you are vulnerable to sinful lusts and commit to protect your heart by controlling your eyes.
Avoiding temptation
Making this covenant will lead you to avoid people, places, and things that tempt your eyes towards sin. Job said he would not even look at a virgin to avoid lust, and David walked on his rooftop and saw Bathsheba bathing, leading him into adultery (2 Samuel 11:2-4). Their examples show you may need to steer clear of tempting situations. Jesus said “If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away” (Matthew 5:29), emphasizing drastic measures may be needed. Making the covenant provides motivation to flee tempting environments.
Turning your eyes to God
Rather than obsessing over restricting what you see, making the covenant also involves intentionally fixing your eyes on God through Bible reading, prayer, etc. David said “I have set the Lord always before me” (Psalm 16:8). As you behold the glory of God, you are transformed to reflect His glory and image (2 Corinthians 3:18). You gain strength to “look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen” (2 Corinthians 4:18). Setting your gaze on eternity with God helps you use your eyes for His purposes.
Living in freedom
Keeping this covenant actually leads to freedom, not bondage. Jesus said ” everyone who practices sin is a slave to sin” (John 8:34) but “if you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” (John 8:31-32). Making a covenant with your eyes and avoiding lust helps you resist slavery to sinful desires and empowers you to live freely as God designed.
A lifelong process
Don’t be discouraged when you fail in keeping the covenant; it’s a lifelong process. By God’s grace and strength you can gain victory over time. When you fall, repent and rely on Christ’s forgiveness and power to start again. “My eyes shed streams of tears, because people do not keep your law” (Psalm 119:136). Let tears of godly repentance and joy of forgiveness motivate you to keep pursuing purity.
Aids to accountability
Consider involving others to help you keep the covenant by accountability. Confess struggles to a trustworthy friend. Install site-blocking filters on devices. Share your internet browsing history. Avoid late nights or isolation when tempted. Accountability helps provide defense against moments of weakness.
Fixed on eternity
Setting your eyes on the eternal destiny prepared for you helps persevere in purity. Paul said “Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth” (Colossians 3:2). Samson failed to keep his eyes pure and lost his destiny (Judges 16:4-21), but Scripture says Jesus endured the cross “for the joy that was set before him” (Hebrews 12:2). Fixing your eyes on what awaits you for eternity provides motivation to keep your covenant.
Empowered by God’s Spirit
Your own willpower is not enough to keep this covenant; you need the Spirit’s empowerment. “Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the Lord” (Zechariah 4:6). Pray daily for the Spirit to strengthen your inner self (Ephesians 3:16). Walk in step with the Spirit (Galatians 5:25). He will produce self-control in you (Galatius 5:23). Rely on His power within you to keep your covenant.
In summary, making a covenant with your eyes involves choosing to set them on that which pleases God, actively avoiding lusts, guarding your heart, fleeing temptation, fixing your eyes on Jesus, committing to a lifelong battle for purity, utilizing accountability and being empowered by the Spirit. God designed your eyes, so when you use them as He intends it leads to great joy and freedom.