What Do You Want Me to Do for You?

 Jesus asked that question to blind Bartimaeus in Mark 10:51. Bartimaeus, who was blind, did not hesitate to respond that he wanted to receive his sight. That was a very specific answer to Jesus' question. He boldly responded. 

Think about the way we pray sometimes. We often pray vague ambiguous prayers that we would not really know if God answered or not. We pray general requests that cover a multitude of things. I believe we should learn to pray specifically to address what we need God to do for us. If we have a need of His provision and the need is for $957, then we should ask God for $957. I know this sounds dangerously close to name it and claim it theology. I assure you I do not support that. 

Go ahead and get your Bible and read Heb 11:1. Read the first few words. Does your translation read, "Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen?" Maybe yours reads a little differently. Generally they are similar. Did you notice that word "things". What things? What sort of things? When Abraham prayed believing God for an heir, he believed God for a specific gender in a son. When Israel thirsted in the wilderness, Moses prayed specifically for clean water to drink. When they desired meat, Moses prayed for meat and God sent quail. When Elijah prayed for the drought to end, he prayed for rain. You get the idea. 

What is it right now you want to God to do for you? The word "want" in Mark 10:51 means what do you desire, wish, and intend for Him to do for you? This is not based on what we deserve. It is based on mercy.  The compassion of God giving us what we could never earn or deserve. We all have wants. Some of those wants are legitimate needs. Others are things we wish God would do. What do you want Him to do for you? 

He is powerful enough to do anything. He is capable of answering. Notice Jesus did not ask what do you need me to do for you? He specifically used the word want. For many years, Brenda and I have stood firm in faith on Ps 37:4 "Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart." The key phrase in that passage is delight yourself in the Lord. That means to desire what He desires. That means finding such contentment in Him that He curbs your desires into what He wills to do for you. 

Each of us has our own wants lists. God may will to answer some or all of them. One sure way to get prayers answered is to pray for what God wills to do. I Jn 5:14-15. I exhort you to not be afraid to pray specifically. Let me conclude with an illustration. In 2017, I asked God for five vehicles for my family. Between Thanksgiving and New Years, God answered that prayer. He supplied five cars with no debt. Each of those vehicles had over 150,000 miles on them. Each of them is on its last leg. They need to be replaced. 

Fast forward to 2025. I'm once again praying for vehicles. Only this time, I'm praying for six vehicles because our oldest son Taylor and his wife are down to one vehicle. I'm praying more specifically than I did back in 2017. God answered for the five cars, but they were all old and worn out when we got them. I'm asking God for His best vehicles with no debt. That does not mean I'm asking for brand new vehicles. It just means I'm asking for vehicles that will last a long time. I even asked different members of my family what kind of vehicle they would like. Doesn't mean God will give that, but I am praying accordingly. I asked God for those specific makes and models. 

I know that sounds outlandish. I get it. If God is asking me what I want Him to do for me, that is one thing I'm asking. Maybe I should say six things. My list is long. There are many other items I ask. I dare not list them so that you do not think I've lost all my marbles. I know that God can do anything. He glorifies Himself with answers. I lay this out now in advance so that when God answers you will know God answered specific prayers. He will be exalted. 

Go ahead. Ask in faith. Honestly answer God when He asks what do you want Him to do for you? You are just one miracle away from breakthrough. One miracle away from mountains moving. One miracle away from getting the desires of your heart.