2 October 2019
Prayer & Faith
Luke 18:40-42 NLT
When Jesus heard him, he stopped and ordered that the man be brought to him. As the man came near, Jesus asked him, 41 “What do you want me to do for you?” “Lord,” he said, “I want to see!” 42 And Jesus said, “All right, receive your sight! Your faith has healed you.” 43 Instantly the man could see, and he followed Jesus, praising God. And all who saw it praised God, too.
Why does Jesus ask a blind man what he wants; isn’t it obvious? Why do we pray when our Heavenly Father already knows our needs? (Matthew 6:8)
Of course Jesus knows our needs. Of course he knew what the blind man needed and wanted. But when we ask him we are openly declaring what we believe HE can do, and we are openly admitting what we cannot do for ourselves. If we expect God to just read our minds, which he absolutely can do, when would we ever declare his goodness and our great needs to ourselves or anyone?
Jesus told the blind man, “Your faith has healed you.” (v.42) We express our faith every time we pray. We pray believing, hoping, expecting, and knowing that God will move on our behalf. We absolutely exercise our faith when we simply tell God what we need. Asking reminds me of my need for him. Presuming isn’t prayer, and it isn’t humbling, and it leads to casualness and misdirected feelings that Jesus is my peer or my genie in bottle. He’s my Rescuer not my butler.
I pray so that I will put my faith where it belongs – in Jesus. And it is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to him must believe that God exists and that he rewards those who sincerely seek him. (Hebrews 11:6 NLT)
Dear God,
Thank you for listening to all of my prayers, even the immature ones. Thank you for meeting all of my needs, big or small. Thank you for your constant faithfulness that has never made me feel shame or regret for putting my hope in you. Thank you that you tell me to come to you and then you always show up. I love you and appreciate you so much and I thank you in Jesus’ name, amen.
Prayer & Faith
Luke 18:40-42 NLT
When Jesus heard him, he stopped and ordered that the man be brought to him. As the man came near, Jesus asked him, 41 “What do you want me to do for you?” “Lord,” he said, “I want to see!” 42 And Jesus said, “All right, receive your sight! Your faith has healed you.” 43 Instantly the man could see, and he followed Jesus, praising God. And all who saw it praised God, too.
Why does Jesus ask a blind man what he wants; isn’t it obvious? Why do we pray when our Heavenly Father already knows our needs? (Matthew 6:8)
Of course Jesus knows our needs. Of course he knew what the blind man needed and wanted. But when we ask him we are openly declaring what we believe HE can do, and we are openly admitting what we cannot do for ourselves. If we expect God to just read our minds, which he absolutely can do, when would we ever declare his goodness and our great needs to ourselves or anyone?
Jesus told the blind man, “Your faith has healed you.” (v.42) We express our faith every time we pray. We pray believing, hoping, expecting, and knowing that God will move on our behalf. We absolutely exercise our faith when we simply tell God what we need. Asking reminds me of my need for him. Presuming isn’t prayer, and it isn’t humbling, and it leads to casualness and misdirected feelings that Jesus is my peer or my genie in bottle. He’s my Rescuer not my butler.
I pray so that I will put my faith where it belongs – in Jesus. And it is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to him must believe that God exists and that he rewards those who sincerely seek him. (Hebrews 11:6 NLT)
Dear God,
Thank you for listening to all of my prayers, even the immature ones. Thank you for meeting all of my needs, big or small. Thank you for your constant faithfulness that has never made me feel shame or regret for putting my hope in you. Thank you that you tell me to come to you and then you always show up. I love you and appreciate you so much and I thank you in Jesus’ name, amen.
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