What do you want?

“Look at that car! I want it!”  The Lexus commercial did what it was made for – created a desire in my heart. Throughout the day there will be dozens of ‘wants’ that come into my mind. Some will pass quickly, others will linger. Some will descend into temptation that I will resist. Others will go beyond just being desire and I will start to act to satisfy the need. Each one will require some level of evaluation: is this a real need, something I should seek? 

Luke tells the story of a blind beggar who heard the noise of a crowd coming up the road. Inquiring about the stir, he learned that Jesus was passing by. The man started a commotion, shouting out the name of Jesus. The people in the crowd tried to shut him up, but he yelled even louder, until Jesus heard him and asked that the man be brought to him. He asked, “What do you want me to do for you?” “Lord, I want to see,” he replied. Jesus said to him, “Receive your sight; your faith has healed you.” Immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus, praising God. When all the people saw it, they also praised God." (Luke 18:41-43, NIV)  This man knew his greatest need and boldly asked. Imagine if he had said, “Lord, I want two coins so I can buy supper tonight.” Or, “Lord, I want a better spot along this road where more people will give me money.”  But, he did not ask for those things. There was no waiting, no waffling, no wondering.  He wanted his sight: “I want to see!”

Do you know your greatest need?
Is your life a prayer shaped by faith and pursuing a deep relationship with your Father?
Or are you spending all your time praying for stuff, asking for temporary relief from problems, or mumbling unfocused prayers unrelated to what is most important in your life?

Oh, that our prayers would have the same focus, the same intensity that we see in the prayer of that blind beggar! “Lord, I want to see!”  Jesus warned about letting our communication with Him slip into ‘babbling like the pagans.’  “They think they will be heard,” He said, “because of their many words.” He follows that by reminding us that God knows our needs before we even ask. What a revelation! What power we release in this world and in us when we use prayer to align our emotions, will, and actions with the will of God. Yes, we can and we should pray about our daily bread. But, even more, we should ask boldly to be used of God, to be filled with the Spirit, to see with Heaven’s eyes.

Don’t be a whiney child of God, wasting vast amounts of prayer time complaining about aches and pains, fighting with the Lord about your disappointments, or asking Him for trinkets. Pray big! Ask Him for the nations. Ask Him for courage to give your life away. Ask Him to make you a partner in the Kingdom work; saving the world from sin!

Here’s a word from the Word. May it create faith in us.
"You’re cheating on God. If all you want is your own way, flirting with the world every chance you get, you end up enemies of God and his way.

… So let God work his will in you. Yell a loud no to the Devil and watch him scamper.

Say a quiet yes to God and he’ll be there in no time. Quit dabbling in sin. Purify your inner life." (James 4:4-8, The Message)

______________________________

My hope is built on nothing less,

Than Jesus' blood and righteousness.

I dare not trust the sweetest frame,

but wholly lean on Jesus' Name.

On Christ, the Solid Rock, I stand,

all other ground is sinking sand!

- public domain