Wednesday, February 22, 2012

Thoughts on prayer


I'm taking a queue from my dear friend Laura today.

She recently posted a blog about how her sweet, amazing grandmother who is losing her vision. She asked for prayer.

I started praying for her as I read the post and found myself saying, "Lord, I know that you have the power to restore sight to the blind. You have done it... I read about it yesterday..."

I'm going through a reading plan on YouVersion called the Essential 100 and read Mark 8 yesterday.

 22 They came to Bethsaida, and some people brought a blind man and begged Jesus to touch him. 23 He took the blind man by the hand and led him outside the village. When he had spit on the man’s eyes and put his hands on him, Jesus asked, “Do you see anything?” 24 He looked up and said, “I see people; they look like trees walking around.” 25 Once more Jesus put his hands on the man’s eyes. Then his eyes were opened, his sight was restored, and he saw everything clearly.

I'm going to be real honest right now. I kinda tuned out while reading this yesterday.

Simply because I knew the story. I'd heard it in Sunday School and High School chapel and in Youth group. It's not that I didn't believe it. It was just familiar. But as I prayed for Laura's grandmother today, looking at the photo of her right in front of me and asking God to do something that He has done before... That story in Mark became so different. It became alive.

See, it isn't just a story. That blind man was someone's family. Maybe he even had people praying for him. And Jesus restored his sight.

That Jesus who healed the blind man is the exact same Jesus we can pray to today.

Our God is powerful.
He is capable.
He is unchanging.

May we keep this in mind when we come before Him in prayer and be encouraged by it to do so more often.

5 comments:

Disguised_by_grace said...

I do that all to often, even in church. If I hear a story that I've heard a ton of times before I can space out easily but then it comes up in context in another situation and kinda mekes you step back and think a little. I like when god can grab our attention like that.

Laura Hernandez said...

No words to describe how much I needed to read this. You are such an amazing friend. Wish there was a way for my to share how thankful I am to have you in my life. Love you.

Becky Borgman said...

It is so true that we often don't place people of the bible within the context of real life and so many of the same real problem we face today. They often become just nice stories of the past, when in fact what Jesus did for those who sought him while he was on this earth, he is still doing for those who seek him. Great post!

Anonymous said...

This is exactly what God's been teaching me this week.. About everywhere I go God finds a way to remind me about the importance of prayer. Our God is the Creator of the universe and all the galaxies in it. Hes also stopped the sun in its tracks. Our Prayers need to mirror how big he is!!! Thanks for sharing your heart!

Unknown said...

Man this really hits home for me. I have been doing that lately with my old testament reading. It is encouraging to remember that God is the same. Thank you :)