Praying Specifically
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From My Heart
Matthew 20:29-34 is the story of the Lord Jesus healing two blind men. These blind men were daily asking the wrong people for the wrong thing. They did not need money-they needed sight. As Jesus passed by, the men cried out, "Have mercy on us, O Lord, thou son on David (20:31)." Jesus answers them by saying, "What will ye that I shall do unto you (20:32)."
Let me ask you a question: Didn't the blind men already tell the Lord what they wanted? They asked for mercy. Is that a bad thing? No. Is it specific? No. To ask for mercy is kind of ambiguous. Everybody needs mercy. Jesus wanted to know what kind of mercy.
Their asking demonstrated the Lord's ability--He could. His answer demonstrated His will--He would. Do not get so spiritual that you pawn off prayer as just a spiritual exercise to become close to God. "God knows everything already, so my asking is just a discipline." Does God know everything? Yes. Does God want me to ask, and to ask specifically? Yes! You are not close to God if you are not depending on Him--if you do not realize you need him and ask for what you need. If you spend your time analyzing prayer scientifically, your dependence will be destroyed. Depend on God and ask Him for what you need.
Prayer does not just change you; prayer changes things. Often we can miss the point by emphasizing the secondary matters of prayer. Praying longer, more fervently, on your knees, before the sun rises, etc., may be valid points, but if you are not asking God--if you have no sense of need--your praying is a sham. If you live with a sense of need, all of those things-time, fervency, posture-will take care of themselves.
Let me ask you a question: Didn't the blind men already tell the Lord what they wanted? They asked for mercy. Is that a bad thing? No. Is it specific? No. To ask for mercy is kind of ambiguous. Everybody needs mercy. Jesus wanted to know what kind of mercy.
Their asking demonstrated the Lord's ability--He could. His answer demonstrated His will--He would. Do not get so spiritual that you pawn off prayer as just a spiritual exercise to become close to God. "God knows everything already, so my asking is just a discipline." Does God know everything? Yes. Does God want me to ask, and to ask specifically? Yes! You are not close to God if you are not depending on Him--if you do not realize you need him and ask for what you need. If you spend your time analyzing prayer scientifically, your dependence will be destroyed. Depend on God and ask Him for what you need.- Do you think the Lord knows what you need?
- Do you think others may even know what you need?
- The question is, will you?
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