Today is the 8th 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: 31 Then he returned from the region of Tyre and went through Sidon to the Sea of Galilee, in the region of the Decapolis. 32And they brought to him a man who was deaf and had a speech impediment, and they begged him to lay his hand on him. 33And taking him aside from the crowd privately, he put his fingers into his ears, and after spitting touched his tongue. 34And looking up to heaven, he sighed and said to him, “Ephphatha,” that is, “Be opened.” 35 And his ears were opened, his tongue was released, and he spoke plainly. (Mark 7:31-35 ESV)
Jesus looked at a man needing help. Then Jesus looked to heaven.
Jesus saw this person. Then he prayed.
He observed an individual. Then he interceded.
What do you do when you see someone in need? Look down? Look away? Look within? Then next time you find yourself in front of a person in need, let your first look be to heaven. Open your eyes today, and every day left in these 40 days. Each time you observe an individual requiring help, look to heaven and intercede.
SHARE WITH SOME OTHER READERS BELOW WHAT YOUR GUT REACTION TENDS TO BE TO PEOPLE IN NEED…
[image: http://www.flickr.com/photos/blackbutterfly/3245462287/]
I don’t trust my gut reactions. So instead I will borrow a line from the song Kevin G posted last night: “Patient, compassionate, Love flows through You, You never give up on the hopeless ones, These things are true of You.” It is my prayer that in a few years that would be my reaction.
Strange that I should be 1st to comment on this today. I guess everyone else must be out interceeding…
Seriously, this is what I do most at work. I am trained to see people in need and believe me, the Med always has people in need.
My CPE (Clinical Pastoral Education) Supervisor taught me that there are generally three types of responses when we see people in need. We either “move toward”, “move away” or “move against.” I fall in the “move toward” category. It is a strength that can become a weakness. Everyday I encouter many people with problems that are far beyond my capability to help them. I just can’t “fix” some things. Sometimes I find myself “moving toward” trying to “fix” and I realize I can’t fix it. But I have a Father in heaven that has encouraged me to bring everything and anything before His throne of grace. So I pray. Sometimes people don’t even know that I am. Sometimes they do. Sometimes they request it, and I pray. Sometimes they don’t, yet I still pray.
Well, I thought I would be first…
Kevin and Jason – great to hear from you. I think the rest of our virtual community is busy with many other rich and rewarding things. It was great to hear from the two of you. Kevin, you are in such a unique and interesting context. Thank you for continuing share about that world where you have the chance to touch the lives of so many.
This really fit me yesterday! I have one class (out of seven, by the way, that I am teaching this year!) that really challenges me day in and day out with their behavior. Every day before they come in I pray that I will be patient, not lose my temper, not give up, and that I will be whatever they need so that we can get through the period. They have been much better this semester, to be honest, but I still have to discipline students just about every day. Yesterday two of my “repeat offenders” were mouthy with me and totally resistant to everything I was doing, and eventually they both ended up in the office. As soon as the bell rang, one of the them sauntered in to get her notebook which she had left on the desk. She didn’t say a word to me, just walked past me all the way across the room. In that moment I was filled with so much anger, I could feel the sarcasm pushing against my lips… who does she think she is???
But then I remembered a truth that God has been revealing to me more and more about my students: here is a child in need. In need of direction, of guidance, of social skills, of common decency, and probably in need of love and acceptance as well. I don’t know if I can give her those things, to be honest. But I prayed for her both on my own and with my children during our afternoon prayer time. I prayed for her and for five other students who really disrupted class yesterday. If I am able to give them some of what they need emotionally, then I pray that God will soften my heart toward them and that I will step aside so that He can work through me. On my own, they would get nothing but sarcasm and criticism at this point in the year, when they have sucked out every bit of energy I have for ninety minutes every day. But with God working through me, perhaps I can show them mercy and compassion.
“JESUS has always many who love His heavenly kingdom, but few who bear His cross. He has many who desire consolation, but few who care for trial. He finds many to share His table, but few to take part in His fasting. All desire to be happy with Him; few wish to suffer anything for Him. Many follow Him to the breaking of bread, but few to the drinking of the chalice of His passion. Many revere His miracles; few approach the shame of the Cross. Many love Him as long as they encounter no hardship; many praise and bless Him as long as they receive some comfort from Him. But if Jesus hides Himself and leaves them for a while, they fall either into complaints or into deep dejection.” — Thomas A Kempis
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