“And they came to Bethsaida. And some people brought to him a blind man and begged him to touch him. And he took the blind man by the hand and led him out of the village, and when he had spit on his eyes and laid his hands on him, he asked him, ‘Do you see anything?’ And he looked up and said, ‘I see people, but they look like trees, walking.’ Then Jesus laid his hands on his eyes again; and he opened his eyes, his sight was restored, and he saw everything clearly.” (Mark 8:22-25)
There have been many times when I have prayed with great faith and expectation and nothing seemed to happen. Other times I have casually prayed, not expecting anything and the person I prayed for got healed. Many times when praying for healing, it has taken more than one time asking. How many times have you mustered all your faith to pray for someone to be healed and there was no evidence anything had changed? I love this particular passage in Mark because even Jesus, who had a pretty stellar track record when it came to healing, prayed twice to see this blind man healed. Not only that, he spit on the man’s eyes and laid hands on them. What kind of methodology is that? We don’t know if the man’s eyes were dirty and crusty. We don’t know if there was some other reason for the spit. What we do know is Jesus was listening to the Father and did what he saw his Father do. When the healing wasn’t 100% the first time, Jesus went after it again. What a wonderful example of persistence. Jesus could have left him with his vision partly healed. It would have been an improvement from not being able to see at all. But he continued to contend for the man until his sight was fully restored.
When we pray for others to be healed, it may take more than once. Sometimes we pray and the healing happens right away. Sometimes healing requires us to pray more than once. Other times healing is gradual or happens when a person leaves. Our job is to ask, and not give up. Pray as many times as it takes. We engage our faith and the healing is God’s responsibility.
Listening Prayer:
Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal times when you may have given up hope in prayer. Repent and surrender those circumstances to him. Ask him to help you give you strategies to grow in faith and perseverance.
Prayer:
Holy Spirit, thank you that the job to heal is your job and my job is to pray. Thank you for partnering with me and allowing me to be a part of the healing process with you. Help me to have faith even when I don’t see any evidence of change. Teach me to discern when to continue contending for miracles and persevere. Help me to release the outcome into your hands and to trust in your perfect timing.
Resource: Bible Verses on Being Persistent in Prayer
“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened.” (Matthew 7:7-8)
“And he told them a parable to the effect that they ought always to pray and not lose heart.” (Luke 18:1)
“In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints,” (Ephesians 6:16-18)
Read how Elijah prays for rain seven times. (1 Kings 18)
Worship Song:
“Just One Touch” by Kim Walker-Smith