“What do you want me to do for you?” Jesus asked him (Bartimaeus). The blind man said, “Rabbi, I want to see.” Mark 10:51
Lord Jesus, we begin this Saturday with needs just as life-altering as Bartimaeus’ blindness. Some of our needs, however, may not be as obvious to us. You knew Bartimaeus was blind; nevertheless, you made it easy for him to be vulnerable—to express the longing of his heart. It’s the same with us. We can be unfiltered honest with you.
You know us better than anyone does, Jesus, and you also know sometimes we want the wrong thing. Sometimes we only want our circumstances to change—100 times more so than we long for a changed heart. Thankfully, you’re not into currying our favor, but into making us like yourself.
Jesus, my praying friends have a different “list,” but these are a few things I know as needs, for which only you are sufficient. I want everyone in my extended family to know you, Jesus—to rest in your mercy, grace, and love.
I want to have a non-anxious spirit more of the time—in circumstances I can’t control, and with people I do not enjoy. As I age my way into more weakness. Jesus, I want to spontaneously horselaugh more often, and I want to get irritated way less easily.
Jesus, I want to finish my years and days as a faithful encourager, as a quick-repenter, and as an intrigued, curious listener. Whether I’m in the final 30% or 10% of my appointed days, free me to live them at the pace of grace, by the rhythms of the Gospel, with you as my singular Treasure. So Very Amen.