Today is the 14th day of Lent, a 40 day season of spiritual reflection, repentance, and renewal. During these 40 days we’ll explore the prayer life of Jesus, walking chronologically through every mention of Jesus’ prayer life and prayers in the Gospels.
Here is today’s prayer event: 30The man answered, “Why, this is an amazing thing! You do not know where he comes from, and yet he opened my eyes. 31We know that God does not listen to sinners, but if anyone is a worshiper of God and does his will, God listens to him. 32Never since the world began has it been heard that anyone opened the eyes of a man born blind. 33 If this man were not from God, he could do nothing.” (John 9:30-33 ESV).
Jesus heals a man born blind. The Pharisees attack the veracity of the miracle and the character of the Messiah (he performed this deed on the Sabbath). They demand to know from the once-blind man how such a thing could have happened, if indeed it happened at all.
Notice how the man replies: “We know that God does not listen to sinners, but if anyone is a worshiper of God and does his will, God listens to him.” Though John never explicitly describes such a scene, this man’s comments suggest that the healing was in response to a prayer which Jesus prayed and to which God listened.
Even when it appears Jesus was dancing solo, he was pairs dancing. An observer would have only noticed Jesus healing a blind man. But the blind man knew it was Jesus, through prayer, acting in partnership with God. Prayer had become so habitual and natural to Jesus that it was as if he was always in prayer.
How about you? Are you dancing solo most of the day and only occasionally pausing to prayerfully partner with God? Or is prayer as much a part of your minute-by-minute life that it’s like breathing, that you’re always pairs dancing?
[image: http://www.flickr.com/photos/43368184@N08/4023049774/]
Thankfully, I can say that I feel my days are more of a partner dance with God! Has not always been the case, but I can tell you that the dance goes much more smoothly with God taking the lead!!! Prayerfully I admit that I still find myself, at times, mostly hurried times, trying to do it solo, only to find myself spinning and falling! My days go much better when I can feel His one hand on my back and His other hand clasped around mine. It’s a secure hold and there is nothing more comforting!!!
Michelle, I love your imagery! You described exactly what I would have said. Sometimes I get busy and forget that I am dancing with a partner, and then life gets out of control really quickly! Fortunately through the years I have had fewer and fewer of those spells. I’m so glad this life is a journey and not one big test, or one final performance, to keep with the dancing metaphor.
What’s all this dancing business about??? tsk-tsk ; )
Regretfully, I am still solo dancing more than I like to admit.It’s noteworthy that in my solo dance, I often go twirling off, oblivious to the fact that I’m likely off course as I choreograph my own path, sometimes spinning out of controlbefore I finally realize what’s wrong.
I like the metaphor Chris. It appears that I am dancing solo thru the ICUs when I pass through and say silent prayers for those who are sleeping or unable to aknowledge I am present. But in fact I am in conversation with God. I like it. It will help me tremedously as I go about my work quietly to think of it as dancing with God.
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