In Mark 10:51, Jesus asks the Blind Bartimaeus, “What do you want me to do for you?”

As a coach, I get to ask my clients what they want, and many times, they either know what they want, but it is so far removed from what they need, or they have yet to learn what they want. And so they have no clue how to answer the question.

As followers of Jesus, there are many things we can have on our prayer list, material things, health issues, relationship challenges, and many more.

We know nothing is too trivial for God, and we should feel comfortable taking all our requests and prayers to God. (Phil 4:6)

Do we know what we should want?

Are there some things we should ask for as a priority? Can we become more self-aware of our desires based on what we ask for?

There are a few things the passage in Mark 10: 46-52 can teach us.

1. Bartimaeus already has an insight that Jesus is not just an ordinary teacher. He identified Jesus as the Son of David. In Judaism, there was a tradition that Solomon, as Son of David, had the power to heal, exercising great authority over the forces of evil.

2. There’s no doubt that Jesus is asking Bartimaeus an obvious question, maybe not only to clarify what he wants but also to let those who initially tried to quiet him know that the blind man saw more than those with eyes.

3. Bartimaeus’s answer, “I want to see!” is what we all should ask when we approach Jesus because we become more aware of the truth when we see life from God’s perspective.

What we can pray for

In times of confusion, chaos and complexity, we first need ‘eyes’ that see.

Let us all be praying:

Lord, we pray that the eyes of our hearts may be enlightened so that we may know the hope to which you have called us!

Please help us to see what you want us to see and hear what you want us to hear!

Amen!