My family has issues with eyesight. All of us wear glasses or contact lenses of some sort, and some have had cataract surgery. My mother has glaucoma and other eye issues, which makes life difficult, although she manages to get around by familiarity with her surroundings. My father alone had fine, blue eyes. At his untimely death in his mid-forties, his eyes were donated so that two other recipients might see.

The ability to see was as vital in Jesus' day as it is today. A blind man on a Jericho road heard a crowd approach:

Luke 18:37-43 – They told him, "Jesus of Nazareth is passing by." And he cried out, "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!" And those who were in front rebuked him, telling him to be silent. But he cried out all the more, "Son of David, have mercy on me!" And Jesus stopped and commanded him to be brought to him. And when he came near, he asked him, "What do you want me to do for you?" He said, "Lord, let me recover my sight." And Jesus said to him, "Recover your sight; your faith has made you well." And immediately he recovered his sight and followed him, glorifying God. And all the people, when they saw it, gave praise to God. (ESV)

This man was desperate to see again, too much to care about being shunned and told to shut up. Jesus loved healing people, especially ones with a persistent request. His plain question is so profound, yet so simple: "What do you want me to do for you?" Jesus knew that the man was blind, and He knows that we need help, too, but He wants us to keep asking, to lay out all our needs before Him, as this is our continual display of faithful trust and dependence on God. When God does not seem to answer us right away, we can, in faith, be assured of His presence, strength, and purpose.

Ecclesiastes 3:11 – He has made everything appropriate in its time. He has set eternity in their heart, yet so that man will not find out the work which God has done from the beginning even to the end. (NASB 1995)

Healing, in person and in spirit, is connected with our faith in Him. Do you know who Jesus is, and what you want Him to do for you? Are you willing to call Him Lord, to follow Him, and to glorify God, as the man healed of blindness readily did? I pray that you will let your requests be known to God each day, for He loves to hear His children pray, and to heal them.

Prayer: Dear Lord, thank You for Your compassion and willingness to hear those who call out for You, again and again, and to heal them. Heal us today, as we lay out every care and hurt before You, and may we, too, follow after You, glorifying You. Amen.

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About the author:

Shirley Moulton <shirley_moulton@yahoo.ca>
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
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