Persistent Prayer

Persistent Prayer

Jesus Healing blind Bartimeus

What if instead of people asking  ‘how are you doing?’, they asked ‘how is your prayer life?’

That would tell us much more of a person’s well-being, don’t you think? If our prayer life is robust, we are well in Christ. If our prayer life’s been hit by a dry spell, we are not doing that well.

Let’s keep this on our minds as we jump into a very ordinary Bible story where Jesus heals a blind beggar called Bartimaeus.

Jesus and his followers came into Jericho. As Jesus was leaving Jericho, together with his disciples and a sizable crowd, a blind beggar named Bartimaeus, Timaeus’ son, was sitting beside the road. When he heard that Jesus of Nazareth was there, he began to shout, “Jesus, Son of David, show me mercy!” Many scolded him, telling him to be quiet, but he shouted even louder, “Son of David, show me mercy!” Jesus stopped and said, “Call him forward.” They called the blind man, “Be encouraged! Get up! He’s calling you.” Throwing his coat to the side, he jumped up and came to Jesus. Jesus asked him, “What do you want me to do for you?” The blind man said, “Teacher, I want to see.” Jesus said, “Go, your faith has healed you.” At once he was able to see, and he began to follow Jesus on the way. (Mark 10:46-52, CEB, emphasis added)

I was touched by Bartimeus’ persistence. Can you hear him shouting? Can you imagine the people around telling him ‘Don’t bother Jesus’, ‘Behave’ or ‘Hush up’. Despite all this he could not but cry louder. And Jesus heard him and responded in kindness.

We don’t necessarily have other people telling us to hush up. But our inner critic can be very loud. How often does your inner voice censure your prayers? How often does the inner critic tell you that you should not bother Jesus? That your problems are so small compared to the big problems of the world that you should stop asking. That because you are too sinful to approach Jesus you should just shut up? That prayer does not work anyway so just let it go?

But don’t let the enemy win. Do like Bartimaeus and cry even louder. Pray hard and without ceasing. Don’t let anything distract you. Pray as long as it takes. Pray persistently and pray precisely. Pray about everything. And pray with everything you’ve got.

Because when praying is our way of life, we are well in Christ.
When our prayer life is robust, we are flourishing.
When we pray persistently, we are prevailing despite everything.
Because we will also be able to see.
Come, Lord Jesus!

 

Gracious God,
Show us mercy!
We want to see with your eyes.
Hear our prayers!
Show us mercy!
We want to do your will.
Hear our prayers.
In Jesus’ name,
Amen

Q4U: Have you silenced your prayers because of others of your inner critic? Are you persistent in prayer?

Be blessed, my fellow pilgrim, as you persistently pray without ceasing!

Giving thanks today for
#681 Jesus’ tender heart
#682 nothing else matters than Jesus
#683 persistent prayer pays off
#684 God is listening to all of our prayers
#685 The Holy Spirit works in us, for us, through us
#686 The Holy Spirit guides us in prayer
#687 prayer helps us to prevail
#688 prayer is always available
#689 prayer is our direct line to God
#690 God is listening 24/7/365.
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Image courtesy of ochristian.com. Linking up today with Sharing His Beauty & Hear it on Sunday, Use it on Monday and

4 thoughts on “Persistent Prayer

  1. I had never thought about this story from that point of view. Very good point about battling the inner man. Thanks for this post!

  2. I think shame has kept me from approaching God more than any other thing. Shame wants us to hide, but grace bids us “come”.

    I am learning the walk of grace more and more… great truths here in this post.

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