Tag: I Believe

Sitting with a Grieving Friend – Thoughts from the Life of Job – 2025 Day 61 (Job 6-7)

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Read through the Bible in 2 years: Job 6-7; Psalm 29

The two lowest months of my life were March of 1994 and October of 1998. Yet these were also the two seasons when Jesus began to radically transform my faith.

March 1994 was when I finally broke up with my fiancé, Eric, and moved to St. Louis. I was utterly alone in a way I’d never experienced before, but shortly thereafter I met Jesus and began a whole new life with Him always by my side.

October 1998 was when I found out that my stillborn baby’s body had been lost by the hospital after his autopsy. Why had God allowed this to happen? Losing my baby was painful enough …. Why this? I wrestled and struggled and mourned and questioned and grieved for months. What had I done wrong? Was God punishing me?

I didn’t want to go to church. I didn’t want to have playdates with my friends and their children. I just wanted to curl up in bed and stay there.

No one could understand the depth of my pain.

  • “He wasn’t even full-term.”
  • “You’ll have another.”
  • “I had a miscarriage, too, once. You’ll get over it. Give it some time.”
  • “It was just a body.”

Their words dug into my heart like so many little piercing arrows.

I distanced myself from my friends, and they distanced themselves from me, too. I couldn’t relate to them, and they couldn’t relate to me, either. They didn’t want to just sit and grieve with me day after day. A few days of crying was enough, wasn’t it? Why was this still going on weeks and even months later? This was when the book of Job really entered my life for the first time. (Actually, I had first encountered the book of Job in college when I was still an atheist, and I was assigned to read it as a “great work of ancient literature” in one of my liberal arts classes.) But 1998 is when Job’s words pierced my heart.

Out of all the pain and confusion, God again did something new in my heart. He grew my faith in new and profound ways. He taught me to simply trust Him when I don’t understand what’s He’s doing. He taught me that He is good even when people aren’t. He taught me that I can always turn to Him in my pain and suffering.

This week, reading Job again, really taking time to sit and study and journal and think, Job’s words are aimed at my heart again in a new way. Have I withheld kindness from a friend? Have I made light of a friend’s suffering? Can I look my friend in the eye and hold her hand in her grief?

Sisters, let’s not make the same mistakes as Job’s friends. Let’s run toward our friends in their pain, being willing to mourn with those who mourn, rather than running away out of fear and discomfort.

Let’s pray together.

Heavenly Father,

Your grace is sufficient for me for Your power is made perfect in my weakness. Thank You for giving us the book of Job that we could better understand the very real grief of men and the equally very real goodness of God. Help us to be good friends, to run towards those who are hurting instead of running away. Help us to be willing to sit and listen, instead of always trying to speak and fix. Make us like Jesus who wept with the grieving. Make us vessels of Your love and peace and kindness and comfort.

In the Name of Jesus we pray, Amen.

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“Because He Lives”
Keith & Kristyn Getty, Bill Gaither, Buddy Green

Your Life is Not Your Own. Thoughts from the Life of Joseph – 2025 Day 57 (Genesis 49-50)

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Read Through the Bible in 2 years: Psalm 25, Genesis 49-50

His brothers also came and fell down before him and said, “Behold, we are your servants.”

But Joseph said to them, “Do not fear, for am I in the place of God? As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today. So do not fear; I will provide for you and your little ones.”

Thus he comforted them and spoke kindly to them.

Genesis 50:18-21 ESV

Joseph understood that his life was not his own. He recognized that his life was too be lived in service to his fellow man and his God. Whether refusing the advanced of his boss’s wife, interpreting dreams, obeying his father, or providing for the needs of the Egyptians or the brothers who has sold him into slavery, his life was lived as an offering back to God. Can we say the same?

Is your body “a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God”? (Romans 12:2 ESV)

Do you see your body as a temple of the Holy Spirit, whom you have received from God, such that “you are not your own,” … that you will live to “glorify God in your body”? (1 Corinthians 6:19-20 ESV)

If your answer is “no,” let me make two simple, but not simple, suggestions:

  1. You can’t live what you don’t believe. If you don’t believe God’s Word … if you don’t believe that Jesus is the perfect, sinless God-man, the spotless Lamb who died for your sins and was raised to life again … if you don’t believe that God is good and all-knowing and all-powerful over all things, then you won’t be able to trust God enough to surrender your life to Him. Start there. Start by simply reading His Word each day, while asking Him to help you in your unbelief.
  2. You can’t give what you don’t have. If you don’t belong to God, if you’re not filled with His Holy Spirit, then you simply don’t have the power to live for Him. Surrender your life now to God. Trust in the Lord Jesus Christ. Turn away from your sins and follow Him with an obedient spirit. Ask Him to change you from the inside out and fill you with His Spirit.

Please pray with me.

Heavenly Father,

Thank You for Your mercy. Thank You for Your forgiveness. Thank You for coming after me while I was lost in my own sins. Thank You for giving us the book of Genesis, that we can know how the world began, but also that we can know the true stories of ordinary men and women like Abraham and Sarah and Joseph who possessed extraordinary faith.

Help us to trust You more, to believe that nothing is too hard for You, that You have good plans for us and that You have a purpose for our lives. Make us pure and holy vessels of Your Spirit. Make us living offerings for Your glory. We love You. We trust You. Help us to love You more and trust You more, for You are worthy.

In the name of Jesus Christ who is our Savior and our Lord we pray. Amen.

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“I am Not my Own”
Keith + Kristen Getty, Skye Peterson

Fear of God – 2025 Day 43 (Genesis 20-23)

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Read through the Bible in 2 Years: Psalm 11, Genesis 20-23

“Abraham said, ‘I did it because I thought, “There is no fear of God at all in this place, and they will kill me because of my wife.”‘”

– Genesis 20:11 ESV

How ironic that Abraham said “there is no fear of God at all in this place” when he deceived Abimelech! Wasn’t Abraham himself failing to fear God when he chose to deceive Abimelech and risk his own wife’s safety, saying that Sarah was only his sister, rather than confessing that she was his wife?

Fear of the Lord is hatred of evil. Like Proverbs 8:13 ESV says, “The fear of the LORD is hatred of evil. Pride and arrogance and the way of evil and perverted speech I hate.” Or like we read today in Psalm 11:4-5 ESV, “The LORD is in his holy temple; the LORD’s throne is in heaven; his eyes see, his eyelids test the children of man. The LORD tests the righteous, but his soul hates the wicked and the one who loves violence.”

Yet, moments later we read Abraham does indeed trust God, going so far as to obey the Lord’s command to offer Isaac, believing that “God was able even to raise him from the dead,” (Hebrews 11:19)

Just as Abraham is about to sacrifice his promised son, Isaac, the Lord’s messenger says, “Do not lay your hand on the boy or do anything to him, for now I know that you fear God, seeing you have not withheld your son, your only son, from me.” (Genesis 22:12 ESV)

It reminds me of Jesus’s words about proper fear,

“I tell you, my friends, do not fear those who kill the body, and after that have nothing more that they can do. But I will warn you whom to fear: fear him who, after he has killed, has authority to cast into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him!”

Luke 12:4-5 ESV

Followed by,

“Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? And not one of them is forgotten before God. Why, even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not; you are of more value than many sparrows.”

-Luke 12:6-7 ESV

Don’t fear man because they can only kill your body. Rather, fear God who has authority to cast you into hell, followed by …. FEAR NOT! You are way more valuable to God than many sparrows!”

Friends, God’s children don’t need to fear because He will protect them from His wrath by the blood of His Son, but whoever continues to turn away from Him better be afraid because He is a just and righteous judge.

Let us not “presume on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God’s kindness is meant to lead you to repentance.” (Romans 2:4)

Pray with me.

Heavenly Father,

Thank You for Your mercy. Thank You for sending Your Son, Your only Son, the Son You love, Christ Jesus, to be the propitation for my sins.

Let me not presume on the riches of Your kindness and patience. I humbly bow before You in reverence, seeing my need for a Savior. I was bound like Isaac, unable to escape from my sins, and Jesus was that perfect Lamb that was offered in our place.

I pray for a right fear of You, Holy God, that I would not be afraid of man nor of whatever daily circumstances that can indeed be scary. Let me not fear anything that is frightening because our trust is in You who judges justly. Help me to trust that You will provide whatever I need for today.

In the Name of my Gracious Savior and Lord Jesus Christ I pray, Amen.

Click here for more information on reading through the Bible in Two Years.

The God who Gives – 2025 Day 39 (Genesis 15)

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Read through the Bible in 2 years: Psalm 7; Genesis 15

“After these things the word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision, ‘Fear not, Abram, I am your shield; your reward shall be very great.'”
– Genesis 15:1 ESV

“I will give to the LORD the thanks due to his righteousness,
and I will sing praise to the name of the LORD, the Most High.”

– Psalm 7:17 ESV

A quick word of encouragement before we dive in today: always read the Bible in context. Don’t forget that Genesis 15 goes with Genesis 14. Interestingly, my husband just yesterday sent me a link to a satirical Babylon Bee article about reading the Bible one daily texted verse at a time.

Remember that at the end of Genesis 14, Abram gave a tenth of everything to the priest-king Melchizedek, and he refused to keep any of the spoil from the King of Sodom (Genesis 14:20-24). This is the context of the Lord saying to Abram, “Fear not, Abram, I am your shield; your reward shall be very great.”

In today’s reading I was again encouraged that the Lord is El Elyon, God Most High. He is the possessor of all things, so He is able to give as He pleases. The Lord is who gives children, and the Lord is who gives land. The Lord is who brings judgment, and the Lord is who brings peace.

Like Job said after losing all of his possessions and even his children, “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return. The LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD.” (Job 1:21 ESV)

If we feel like we earn our possessions by our own power and strength, rather than seeing them as a gift from God Most High, it’s a lot harder to lose them.

If we feel like we create children by our own will, rather than seeing them as a gift from Creator God, it’s a lot easier to refuse to have them.

When we see everything in life as a gift and the Lord as the ultimate giver, then we can receive whatever He sends with thanksgiving and humility.

Let’s pray for our hearts to be humble and thankful before our Almighty generous God.

Heavenly Father,

I pray that I would rightly see You as the great and gracious giver that You are. You are the one who gives and takes away. I pray that I would take refuge in the shadow of Your wings, trusting that whatever You have planned is for my good and for Your glory.

Help me to be humble. Help me to be patient. Help me to be truly thankful for all of my blessings – my husband, my children, my grandchildren, my friends, my church, my country, my home and my health, my clothing and food, and every breath that I take.

Thank You for the grace which You have lavished on me.

Thank You for Your undeserved forgiveness through the blood of Christ poured out for me.

Thank Your for Your Word which is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.

Thank You for Your Holy Spirit who leads me and comforts me.

Thank You for sending Your Only Son, Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord, to die in my place.

We praise You, Lord, in His Mighty Name, Amen.

Click here for more information on reading through the Bible in Two Years.

The Life was Made Manifest – 2025 Day 22 (1 John 1)

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Read through the Bible in 2 years: Proverbs 22, 1 John 1

“That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we looked upon and have touched with our hands, concerning the word of life— the life was made manifest, and we have seen it, and testify to it and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and was made manifest to us— that which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ.”
– 1 John 1:1-3 ESV

According to the Wordsmyth intermediate dictionary, manifest means, “clear and unmistakable to the eye or mind; plain; obvious.”

In His great mercy God sent His own Son in the flesh,
making the invisible God manifest among man.

Sometimes it might feel like God is hiding, but the truth is that even though we can’t see the invisible God, we can see Him clearly, unmistakably, plainly, obviously in what He has made. (Romans 1:18-23) Additionally, we can know Him through the testimony of men like John who were eyewitnesses to the flesh-and-bone Jesus, His life, His crucifixion, and His resurrection.

It is the foolish who say in their hearts that there is no God. (Psalm 14:1) Let us not be fools, thinking God doesn’t see us or hear us. He does.

Today we can still read the eyewitness testimony of John who did see and hear and touch the risen Lord, so that we can have fellowship with the body of believers, and with the Father, and with His Son, Jesus Christ, knowing God intimately and personally.

Heavenly Father,

Thank You so much for sending Your Son, Jesus Christ in the flesh that mankind could see Your glory manifest. Keep us from the pride that tempts us to think that You cannot see us or hear us, that You are hiding, that You are blind and deaf to our sinful words and deeds.

Help us to be humble and to seek Your face, searching Your Word of Truth diligently and faithfully .

We pray that we will have genuine, intimate fellowship with the body of believers who are alive today, and we pray that we will have fellowship with Jesus Christ who is our Savior and our Lord. Help us to live surrendered lives, walking by faith and not by sight.

To the glory of Jesus Christ, the Resurrection One. Amen

Click here for more information on reading through the Bible in Two Years.

It is the Lord! – 2025 Day 21 (John 21)

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Read through the Bible in 2 years: Proverbs 21, John 21

"That disciple whom Jesus loved therefore said to Peter, 'It is the Lord!'" - John 21:7a ESV

I love that John just can’t bring himself to use his own name, but refers to himself as “the disciple whom Jesus loved.” This reminds me that my value, like John’s, is found in being loved by Jesus, my Creator, Savior, and Lord who knows all of my shortcomings and sins, yet He still loves me.

"When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his outer garment, for he was stripped for work, and threw himself into the sea." John 21:7b ESV

I can picture it in my mind. Peter heard, “It is the Lord,” and rather than questioning John, he immediately puts on his outer garment, and jumps into the sea to get to Jesus. He wants to see him first this time!

While everyone else is working on bringing in the boat – dragging a heavy net loaded full of fish – Peter just wants to be with Jesus. I wonder if John was frustrated, disgusted, or irritated with Peter’s irresponsible, impulsive response… Or did his heart leap with Peter’s, praising God for making Peter so easily excitable? I hope it was the latter. I want to be able to thank God for the variety of personalities and temperaments that He has given to His children.

After thinking about this, it was particularly ironic to me when I read later in the chapter about Peter pointing his finger at John, asking “Lord, what about this man?” (John 21:21 ESV)

Did Peter ask this out of love and concern for John or out of jealousy? Pride ? Conceit? I don’t have any idea, but I do know how Jesus responded to Peter’s question, “If it is my will that he remain until I come, what is that to you? You follow me!” (John 21:22)

I want to hear Jesus’s words loud and clear and apply them to my own life. “Kim, beloved daughter, don’t worry about those other people.”

Jesus has a unique purpose for each of our lives. I need to keep my eyes focused on Christ, so I can follow Him well. If my eyes are looking over at my friend’s lane, how can I see clearly to drive in mine?

Let’s pray, sisters!

Heavenly Father,

Please help me not to be jealous, envious, covetous, or disdainful of my fellow servants or the tasks that You’ve given them to do. Help me to remember Ephesians 2:10, that I am Your workmanship and that I have been created on purpose for good works that You have prepared in advance for me to do.

Help me, Lord Jesus, to be about my Father’s business with eagerness and joy, not looking to the left or right, not looking behind, but with my eyes fixed firmly on Christ and the hope that is before me. Make me eager to trust and obey You, to look for You and listen carefully for Your voice.

In the blessed name of Jesus I pray, Amen.

Click here for more information on reading through the Bible in Two Years.

When Not Seeing is Believing – 2025 Day 20 (John 20)

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Read through the Bible in 2 years: Proverbs 20, John 20

“Now Thomas, one of the twelve, called the Twin, was not with them when Jesus came. So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord.”

But he said to them, “Unless I see in his hands the mark of the nails, and place my finger into the mark of the nails, and place my hand into his side, I will never believe.”

Eight days later, his disciples were inside again, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side. Do not disbelieve, but believe.”

Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!”

Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”

Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.

– John 20:24-31 ESV

When I was a teenage atheist, I refused to believe in anything I couldn’t see with my eyes, but now I see the many contradictions in my own worldview. Why did I believe my world history teacher when she taught about things that happened hundreds or even thousands of years ago? Why did I believe my chemistry teacher when he taught about how chemical elements worked?

At the time, my faith in an unseen, unknown event creating the universe seemed so intellectual and reasonable to me because I thought that the images of fossils and ape men I’d seen on TV and in my school textbooks were “scientific proof” of evolution. Now I’m astonished by the irony of my “faith” in evolution, which was just as much (if not more!) “a leap of faith” as my faith in Jesus now is. As a Christian, I’m believing the eyewitness testimonies of credible witnesses like John (John 19:35), but where are the eyewitnesses for evolutionary events?

Reading John 20, I noticed how John and Peter and Mary and Thomas believed because they saw.

I have such empathy for Thomas when I think about how much he had just been through. He just couldn’t fully trust his friends’ testimonies when they said, “We have seen the Lord.”

Judas, a fellow apostle, had just betrayed Jesus. Jesus, their messiah, had just been publicly beaten and executed on a Roman cross. And now Thomas has to figure out what is next for his life. How can you be a full-time disciple of someone who’s dead? Is this whole “Jesus is risen from the dead” thing real or just a hoax?

So Thomas demands, “Unless I see in his hands, the mark of the nails and place my finger into the mark of the nails and place my hand into his side, I will never believe.”

Strong words. Strong demands. It’s not enough just to see the mark of the nails on Jesus’s hands. He has to place his own finger in those nail-pierced hands and place his own hand on His spear-pierced side. Merely seeing, apparently, is not believing, either.

And to think that Jesus then appeared to the disciples again when Thomas was there … And went directly to Thomas and gave him what he had requested. What a display of God’s grace and mercy and love!

And, even more so, what a blessing to have my own eyes opened, though I am among those who have not seen and yet have believed.

Will you pray with me?

Jesus, we are not worthy. I am not worthy. Thomas was not worthy.

With Thomas, we cry out, “My Lord and my God.” Jesus, You are not only our Messiah and Savior and Lord, but You are God. This is indeed the gift of faith, the precious, priceless gift to those who have not seen and yet believed.

Remembering the words of Hebrews 11:1, that faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen, we ask that You will open our eyes to have faith to be sure of what we hope for and fully convinced of the things that we have not seen, yet have read in Your Word. Help us to believe those eyewitness testimonies that have been passed down and preserved for us. Help us to believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, that by believing we may have eternal life in His name.

In the mighty name of Jesus we pray, Amen.

Click here for more information on reading through the Bible in Two Years.

Not of this World – 2025 Day 18 (John 18)

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Read through the Bible in 2 Years: Proverbs 18, John 18

"When Jesus said to them, "I am he," they drew back and fell to the ground." - John 18:6 ESV

Why would these soldiers draw back and fall to the ground with these simple words? Because Jesus truly is the great “I am,” the eternal one, the one whose words have power like no earthly man.

"Simon Peter followed Jesus, and so did another disciple. Since that disciple was known to the high priest, he entered with Jesus into the courtyard of the high priest, but Peter stood outside at the door. So the other disciple, who was known to the high priest, went out and spoke to the servant girl who kept watch at the door, and brought Peter in. The servant girl at the door said to Peter, "You also are not one of this man's disciples, are you?" He said, "I am not."" - John 18:15-17 ESV

This “other disciple” is John. John, the author of the book of John, was known to the high priest and was allowed to enter into the courtyard with Jesus. Then, John bought Peter in. It seems to me that John is willing to identify himself with Jesus, but Peter isn’t. Peter insists even to a mere servant girl that he is not one of Jesus’s disciples.

I have to ask myself, am I more like John – willing to identify myself with Christ even with his enemies … or more like Peter, afraid to stand up for Christ even with a stranger.

Jesus says, “I am he,”
while Peter says, “I am not.”

"So Pilate entered his headquarters again and called Jesus and said to him, "Are you the King of the Jews?" Jesus answered, "Do you say this of your own accord, or did others say it to you about me?" Pilate answered, "Am I a Jew? Your own nation and the chief priests have delivered you over to me. What have you done?" Jesus answered, "My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would have been fighting, that I might not be delivered over to the Jews. But my kingdom is not from the world."" - John 18:33-36 ESV

This reminded me of John 1:10-12, “He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.”

Jesus’s own people, the Jews, had rejected him, yet here is Pilate, a Roman, asking Jesus if he is the king of the Jews.

Jesus’s kingdom is not over any specific group of people, and His kingdom is not in the here and now of this earthly world, Rather, Jesus is the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, the eternal King over all, the One who will reign for all eternity over all heaven and earth.

Which reminded me of Revelation 21. Here’s just a few verses — go read the whole chapter for yourself. 

"And I saw no temple in the city, for its temple is the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb. And the city has no need of sun or moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and its lamp is the Lamb. By its light will the nations walk, and the kings of the earth will bring their glory into it, and its gates will never be shut by day--and there will be no night there. They will bring into it the glory and the honor of the nations. But nothing unclean will ever enter it, nor anyone who does what is detestable or false, but only those who are written in the Lamb's book of life." - Revelation 21:22-27 ESV

I look forward to the day when I’ll be able to see my Great King face-to-face, where all things will be new, where there will be no more crying or pain, no more war or persecution … forever and ever. Won’t you join me there?

Let’s pray together.

Heavenly Father,

We look forward to the day when Your will will be done on earth as it is in heaven. We pray for those who haven’t yet bowed their knees to Jesus and ask You to open their eyes to the reality of Christ as King.

We pray for our brothers and sisters around the world who risk their lives and their livelihood to stand with Christ. We pray that You will help us to be bold, to not be ashamed of the gospel for it is the power to save both the Jew and the Gentile.

Thank You for inviting us into Your kingdom. You are the great, everlasting “I am.” And we are the “I am nots.” Help us to remember that. Help us to willingly humble ourselves before Your throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

In the Name of Jesus we pray, Amen.

Click here for more information on reading through the Bible in Two Years.

One Thing I Know: I Once was Blind but Now I See – 2025 Day 9 (John 9)

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Read through the Bible in 2 years: Proverbs 9, John 9

Jesus answered, “It was not that this man sinned, or his parents, but that the works of God might be displayed in him.”

– John 9:3 ESV

God always has a plan and purpose in pain. Sometimes that plan is for discipline and chastisement, but sometimes God has other purposes. We have to be careful not to be so self-absorbed that we think our lives are only about us. Rather, we must recognize that as God’s children our lives are on display for the world to see. What trial are you facing right now? How can the works of God be displayed in that trial?

As Elisabeth Elliot wrote in Suffering is Never for Nothing, “It’s He who was the Word before the foundation of the world, suffering as a lamb slain. And He has a lot up His sleeve that you and I haven’t the slightest idea about now. He’s told us enough so that we know suffering is never for nothing.”

[Jesus] said to him, “Go, wash in the pool of Siloam.”

– John 9:7a

Parents want their children to obey promptly, cheerfully, and completely. Likewise, we should obey our Heavenly Father promptly, cheerfully, and completely. This blind man must by faith obey Jesus and go wash in order to be healed.

  • What if he waited until tomorrow to wash?
  • What if he grumbled the whole way he was walking to the pool?
  • What if he went to a different pool that was more convenient to him?

How often do we fail to obey
(or our obedience comes from selfishness and pride)
and we miss out on a blessing that God has for us?

“His parents answered, “We know that this is our son and that he was born blind. But how he now sees we do not know, nor do we know who opened his eyes. Ask him; he is of age. He will speak for himself.” … He answered, “Whether he is a sinner I do not know. One thing I do know, that though I was blind, now I see.””

– John 9:20-21, 25 ESV

Did you notice how many times “know” and “don’t know” were used in verses 20 – 31? There are so many things that we don’t know, right? But there was something this healed man KNEW, “he was blind but now he sees.” Do you feel that way? Do you KNOW that?

Near the end of this chapter, in verse 35, when Jesus found the man and asked, “Do you believe in the Son of Man?” and he answered, “Who is he, sir, that I may believe in him?” can you feel his joy in having his question answered, “You have SEEN Him, and it is He who is speaking to you”?

Can you answer with this man who once was blind but now sees, “Lord, I believe” and worship Him with joy-filled faith?

Heavenly Father,

You are the God who creates people who are born with sight and people who are born blind. You have purpose in both. Thank You for the gift of earthly sight that allows us to see the beauty of creation that we might be drawn to seek You. Thank You, also, for the gift of spiritual sight that we can see You at work in our lives and in the lives of others around us.

We pray that You will give us spiritual wisdom to obey You promptly, cheerfully, and completely. Please forgive us for all those times we have stubbornly refused to follow You, and all those times we have followed You grudgingly and half-heartedly, those times we’ve waited for a better time, or waited to hear You a second or third or fourth or hundredth time. Help us to be obedient children so that Your works and Your character will be powerfully on display in our lives.

We pray that we will recognize that we were once blind, so that we can be grateful for the GIFT of sight that we have received. Keep us humble and protect us from that pride which so easily creeps into our hearts. Thank You for Your lovingkindness and grace.

In the Almighty Name of Jesus our Savior and our Lord we pray. Amen.

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