Luke 18: 35-43
Jesus stops when a blind man calls to him from the side of the road. He asks, “What do you want me to do for you?” He answers the man’s prayer at that moment, in front of the crowd of people.
This verse is an example of the kind of prayer I have been thinking a lot about lately. If the man had not asked, would his sight have been restored that day? So, his choice (free will) to call out to Jesus with his request, led to his prayer being answered. I am so moved by this way of thinking about prayer. God has given us free will, and that includes the freedom and encouragement to ask for what we need, in prayer. God hears our prayers. Many times they are directly answered. I won’t try to paraphrase C.S. Lewis here, but this reframing comes from one of his books. It (very recently) helped me to look at scripture about prayer in a different way.
Lord above, you have blessed me beyond measure. I ask for peace today, in my heart and in the hearts of those who are hurting and feel like things will not get better for them. Help me to help others with kindness and compassion. Thank you for hearing my prayers. Amen
Becky, transforming
Luke 18: 35-43
41 “What do you want me to do for you?” “Lord, I want to see,” he replied.
Like the blind man mentioned in this verse, I want to understand and see the Lord more clearly. It is through the grace of the Holy Spirit that I am able to see and understand the workings of Jesus in my life. Reading the Bible has opened my eyes to God’s words. The Holy Spirit works in my heart and helps me to keep on track. Jesus restored my sight through the Bible and sermons I have heard for the past 3 years.
Dearest Lord you gave me back my sight. You led me to the Bible to learn mor…
Luke 18:35-43 When the beggar hears that Jesus is passing by he begins to call out in a loud voice, Jesus, Son of David, have compassion on me. By addressing Jesus as Son of David he knows that Jesus is the Messiah. The people tell him to keep quiet. A useless beggar like him has no right disturbing the Master. But the man ignores them and keeps crying out. Now Jesus stops. If the man had not kept calling out, Jesus might not have heard him and he might have passed forever out of his life. Makes me think how often do I persist in my needs from Jesus. What do you want me to do for you Jes…
Luke 18:42 - “Jesus said to him, ‘Receive your sight; your faith has saved you.’”
The blind man’s faith was what Jesus says saved him. The man’s faith was evident in calling Jesus Son of David twice and Lord when Jesus spoke to him. He spoke out despite the crowd around him trying to silence him. Christians today must likewise not shrink from proclaiming Christ in a world that does not want to hear about Him. Just as those in the crowd that witnessed the healing began to praise God, the power of a strong witness that reveals itself in a changed life may help bring others into the family If God.
Prayer - Jesus, I give thanks for Your…
2021-0407 Wednesday, Daily Devotion
Luke 18:38 (NIV)
38 He called out, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!”
A phrase that came to my heart was the word of the blind, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” This is what I need every day and every moment. This prayer/desire is the best way that I could live with the power of the Holy Spirit for the glory of God. Sometimes, when I start thinking I could do something with my own strength, experience, or skill, I forget how I became who I am and why I could do this or that thing. I need to remember that I am the one who needs His mercy every moment.