Mark 10:51-52 “What do you want me to do for you?” Jesus asked him.
The blind man said, “Rabbi, I want to see.”
“Go,” said Jesus, “your faith has healed you.” Immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus along the road.

Prayer is very interesting. As Jesus said very clearly, God knows what we need before we ask Him. (Matthew 6:8) Why then pray? Because our faith in God as our Provider needs to be focused. This episode might not look like prayer, but Bartimaeus was certainly asking Jesus for something specific, and Jesus responded. Sometimes we get into trouble by trying to dictate to God, but sometimes we need to be very clear in our own heart just what it is that we want from Him. One indication that Bartimaeus’ heart was right in this instance was that after receiving healing, he followed Jesus. Too often we want to receive from God and then go on our own merry way ignoring Him. That’s not genuine faith! If we want God’s best for us, we need to give our best to Him. A hymn I have sung from childhood has exactly that message and that title: Our Best. We have preachers today talking about “Your Best Life Now,” when our best is to be given to God since He has already given His Son to us. When our focus is on our own pleasure, we certainly will not walk in God’s best for us.

This obviously was taught to me as a child, and I’m grateful. We also sang, Give of Your Best to the Master, but more than just singing about it, I saw my parents’ dedication to the Lord, not just in “missionary work” but in every facet of their lives. That’s the example I had, but I wish I could say I had done better about following it! I have indeed learned, sometimes the hard way, that God’s way is best, and that to receive it I have to give Him everything of me. Materially speaking, it all came from Him in the first place, but that is also true of the talents and abilities I consider “mine.” Actually they are on loan from Him, so I need to treat them that way. I’ve known that in my head for a long time, but I don’t always act like it! I desire to lead others to follow Christ, but I will not be effective if I am failing to follow Him faithfully myself.

Father, thank You for this reminder. Thank You for getting us through the week in the gallery, and for enabling us to get it all taken down yesterday. Guide me today in getting the pictures out of the frames and into clear files, as well as in delivering the pictures that were ordered. May my photography talents, as well as everything else, be used exactly as You desire, drawing others to You and bringing You glory. Thank You. Praise God!