Be Specific in Prayer
God wants to please His children and delights in answering the prayers of faithful believers. But vague requests don’t bear fruit. If you want your prayers answered, you must be specific in your request. Be clear about what you are asking for. The need to be precise in your prayer requests is clearly illustrated in the story of the two blind men in Matthew 20:30-34.
Vague Prayers Are Not Enough
And as they departed from Jericho, a great multitude followed Him. And, behold, two blind men sitting by the way side, when they heard that Jesus passed by, cried out, saying, “Have mercy on us, O Lord, Thou Son of David.” And the multitude rebuked them, because they should hold their peace: but they cried the more, saying, “Have mercy on us, O Lord, Thou Son of David.”
Jesus Wants Specific Requests
And Jesus stood still, and called them, and said, “What will ye that I shall do unto you?”
They say unto Him, Lord, that our eyes may be opened. So Jesus had compassion on them, and touched their eyes: and immediately their eyes received sight, and they followed Him. Matt 20:29-34
Mark 10:46-52 and Luke 18:35-43 also relate this story with some different details. Mark and Luke only refer to one blind man and indicate he was begging. Mark gives us his name, Bartimaeus. All three accounts convey the need to be specific when making our requests known to God.
Persistence Was Not Enough
Jesus and His disciples were travelling near Jericho with a crowd following them. When He came near where the blind men were begging, they called out to Jesus for mercy. Many people told them to be quiet, but they boldly kept crying out to Jesus for mercy. They were persistent in this prayer but didn’t receive their sight.
Faith Was Not Enough
They believed Jesus could heal them and acknowledged His authority. They called Him, “Lord,” and referred to Him as “the son of David.” But they remained blind.
Jesus Required a Specific Request
Jesus stopped to speak with them and asked them what exactly they wanted, saying, “What do you want me to do for you?”
Jesus did not answer their prayer until they told Him specifically that they wanted to receive their sight. Then Jesus had compassion and immediately answered their request by healing their eyesight.
Most people present that day knew what these blind men needed most from the miraculous healer they were following. But “Have mercy on us” is probably how these two blind men begged of all who passed by. Jesus wanted them to make it clear that they were asking for miraculous healing rather than money.
As God, Jesus knew exactly what they wanted, but He asked them to be specific. Only when they publicly declared precisely what they wanted did they receive their sight.
If we want our prayers answered, we must be specific when we pray.
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Key Takeaways
- God delights in answering prayers, but vague requests do not yield results.
- The story of the blind men in Matthew 20 illustrates the need to be specific in prayer requests.
- Jesus asked the blind men what they wanted, demonstrating that specific requests lead to answers.
- Persistence and faith alone are not enough; one must clearly state their needs to God.
- Being specific in prayer is essential for receiving what we ask for.