Here’s Mud In Your Eye

Good morning, my friend!  Good morning, Father!

“He said this and then spit in the dust, made a clay paste with the saliva, rubbed the paste on the blind man’s eyes, and said, “Go, wash at the Pool of Siloam.”  The man went and washed—and saw.” - John 9:6-7 MSG 

Lord, this morning I lift my friend to You.  Their heart aches from carrying burdens, hurts and wounds.  They have fears for the future and areas of brokenness begging for healing.  They have come before You time and again, bringing their requests before You, and their cries for help remain unanswered.  

This morning You bring to mind the story of the blind man who was healed by Jesus.  To date I have always focused on the power and authority of Jesus to bring about a miracle and the intensity of the joy and relief the miracle must have brought to this man and his family.

This morning You shine a different light on this story than I have seen before.  You ask me, “What was required of this man that he might receive his healing?”  The short answer is that he needed to ask, have faith, be willing to look like a fool in order to obey and expend the necessary energy to follow through to the end.

Lord, we know You can merely speak miracles into existence.  So, we think simply bringing our requests before You, bowing our heads in reverence and receiving our miracle is the way it should happen.  No mess should be involved, no grand exercising of our faith or perspiration from exertion required.  How many times have You offered to partner with us in a miracle, but what was required of us to receive it was more than we were willing to give - You were willing, but we were not?

The blind man was willing to ask.  In so doing, he acknowledged his belief and exhibited faith in Jesus’ ability.  The prescription for his healing made no logical sense, but he wanted to be healed more than he wanted to skirt  embarrassment.  So, he was willing to look like a fool - to be seen publicly with mud on his face by those who had shunned and ridiculed him for his disability.  Then, he was willing to walk out his healing and go where Jesus told him to go and do what Jesus told him to do.  

Lord, I lift my friend.  Have You offered them an answer, a healing or a way of escape, but they found that the answer would require too much faith, too much embarrassment or exertion of energy?  Have they thrown up their hands and declared that You have chosen to not answer, when in reality it is they who were unwilling to do what they needed to do to receive their answer to prayer?

Father, I ask for abundant grace for those prayer requests that have been offered to which You have said, “No” and for others to which Your answer is “Yes, but not yet.”  For those “Yes” answers that they have passed by, bring them back to their remembrance.  I pray they will not spend even one more day in needless suffering, pain, grief or anxiety.  Breathe strength into their faith to believe You can answer, even through seemingly ridiculous circumstances.  Define and hone their desire to be willing to go back and do what it takes, even if it risks embarrassment or pain or produces beads of sweat on their brow.  Provide the energy necessary to walk and see their miracle through to the end.  Give them a willingness to make that phone call, have that hard conversation, say “no,” say “yes,” humble themselves, embrace or let go. Help them to do what they need to do to fulfill their role in partnering with You in their miracle.  Thank You that they can do all things through Christ who strengthens them (Phil 4:13).  Help them to be brave, Father.  This is such scary territory.  Lord, I pray they will be willing to endure a moment of embarrassment or season of discomfort to realize a lifetime of joy and relief.  Remind them of Your offer and then inspire them to receive and pursue it, that the work of God can be displayed in their life (John 9:3).  In Jesus Name ❤️