‘And Jesus said to him, “What do you want me to do for you?” And the blind man said to him, “Rabbi, let me recover my sight.”’ (Mark 10:51 ESV).
Have you ever hesitated to ask God for something specific, thinking He already knows your need? Yet, throughout Scripture, we see God inviting His people to pray with boldness and clarity.
A blind beggar named Bartimaeus was sitting beside the Jericho road when he heard that Jesus and His disciples were passing by. He yelled for Jesus’ attention, calling Him by His Messianic title, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” The crowd’s attempts to quiet Bartimaeus only made him shout louder. Finally, Jesus called him over and asked, “What do you want me to do for you?”
The man’s blindness must have been obvious to everyone. Jesus, who knew people’s thoughts, surely knew what Bartimaeus needed. But Jesus wasn’t asking for His own knowledge—He was inviting Bartimaeus to express his faith. Without hesitation, Bartimaeus replied, “I want to see!” His request demonstrated trust in Jesus’ power to heal.
Jesus knows our needs even before we pray, yet He desires that we come to Him in faith, asking boldly and specifically. When we do, our prayers become an act of trust, and we position ourselves to receive His work in our lives. Bartimaeus faithfully expressed his need, received his sight, and followed Jesus.
Pray specific prayers. What do you need to ask Jesus for today?
PRAYER: Dear Father, You know what we need before we ask, yet You invite us to pray specifically so that our faith in You might grow. Open our eyes to see where Jesus is already at work so that we might follow Him wholeheartedly. Give us wisdom to discern Your will and strength to serve others in love. In Jesus’ name, amen.