Recovering My Vision with Prayer

“They said to him, ‘Lord, let our eyes be opened.’ And Jesus . . . touched their eyes, and immediately they recovered their sight and followed him.” Matthew 20:33-34 (ESV)

What is my perspective these recent days? Am I living with a sense of contentment and gratitude or am I stuck in a negative pattern of thinking and have lost my sense of direction. God wants me to recover my vision. But it will only happen with prayer.

Am I into a habit, hurt, or hang-up, and I can’t see my way out of it. Maybe it’s an unhealthy work habit, a bad attitude, or a way of living. No matter what it is, with prayer, I can recover my vision and see things I’ve never seen before.

There’s a story in the Bible about two blind men who recovered their sight when they prayed. The Bible says, “And when they heard that Jesus was passing by, they cried out, ‘Lord, have mercy on us!’” (Matthew 20:30 ESV). This was a passionate prayer.

But the crowd told the blind men to be silent. Yet they prayed even louder, and Jesus stopped and asked, “What do you want me to do for you?” (Matthew 20:32 ESV). I love that. Jesus let them set the agenda. And he’ll let me do the same. He wants me to tell him what I need. And any time I tell Jesus something, I'm praying.

Then they answered, “‘Lord, let our eyes be opened.’ And Jesus . . . touched their eyes, and immediately they recovered their sight and followed him” (Matthew 20:33-34 ESV).

Doesn’t that sound like a good pattern? Pray, recover, and follow Jesus. When I start looking at life from God’s viewpoint, I'll see things I've never seen before. I'll see my spouse, friends, family, coworkers, and even strangers as valuable, acceptable, and forgivable. I'll also see those things about myself. My entire perspective changes.

The Bible says in Mark 6:34, “When Jesus . . . saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd” (NIV). That’s the way Jesus sees people—with compassion. And he wants to recover my compassion for myself, my loved ones, my community, my country, and the rest of the world.

Today I will ask God to restore my vision so that I can follow him and see people the way Jesus does.

In summary:

Two blind men demonstrate unwavering faith by persistently calling out to Jesus for mercy, despite the crowd's attempts to silence them. Their heartfelt plea, "Lord, let our eyes be opened," moves Jesus to compassion, leading Him to restore their sight immediately. This narrative underscores the power of earnest prayer and the readiness of Jesus to respond to those who seek Him with sincerity.​

Similarly, in Mark 6:34, Jesus observes a large crowd and is deeply moved by their plight, recognizing them as "sheep without a shepherd." His compassion compels Him to teach them many things, addressing their spiritual needs. These passages collectively highlight the importance of approaching Jesus with genuine faith and the transformative impact of His compassionate response, guiding believers to view others through a lens of empathy and understanding. 

Approach Jesus with Persistent Faith: The blind men did not let the crowd's discouragement deter them; they persistently called out to Jesus for mercy. In your own life, don't be discouraged by obstacles or opposition when seeking Jesus' help. Approach Him with unwavering faith and persistence. ​

This encourages me to be specific in my prayers, to trust in Jesus' compassion and power, to follow Jesus wholeheartedly and to see others through Jesus' eyes.

God Is Never in a Hurry

“I waited patiently for the LORD's help; then he listened to me and heard my cry.” Psalm 40:1 (GNT)

God isn’t in a hurry with my spiritual growth. I may think he’s in a hurry, but he’s not. He’s using my current circumstances to develop my character and make me stronger. He’s patient.

Most people, including myself, are impatient. Many of our problems are caused by our inability to wait. We get into debt because we don’t know how to delay gratification, buying things we don’t need with money we don’t have to impress people we don’t even like. We buy all we can, can all we get, and then sit on the can. 

The good news is that, with prayer, I can recover from problems caused by my impatience. The Bible says, “I waited patiently for the LORD‘s help; then he listened to me and heard my cry” (Psalm 40:1 GNT).

Remember: God is never in a hurry. There isn’t an example of Jesus running anywhere in the Bible? In fact, it took him three days to go a mile and a half to get to his friend, Lazarus, who was very sick. And by the time Jesus got to him, it was too late—Lazarus had already died. 

But Jesus had a bigger plan in mind. He didn’t just want to heal Lazarus—he wanted to raise him from the dead. He wanted to do a miracle. And that’s exactly what happened. Jesus walked up to Lazarus’ tomb, told them to roll the stone away, and said, “Lazarus, come out!” (John 11:43 NLT). And Lazarus did! 

Sometimes, a situation can get so bad that I feel tempted to take matters into my own hands. But don’t take shortcuts. Instead, trust in God’s perfect timing and expect a miracle! The Bible says, “Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer” (Romans 12:12 NIV).

God already knows what he’s going to do in my life next month, next year, and in the next decade. His timing is perfect, and his plan for my life is good and worth waiting for.

In summary:

God isn’t in a rush with our spiritual growth—He works patiently and purposefully, using our current challenges to build character and strength. While we often struggle with impatience, trying to force outcomes or take shortcuts, God invites us to trust in His perfect timing. Psalm 40:1 reminds me that when I wait patiently for the Lord, He hears me. My impatience can lead to poor decisions and unnecessary stress, but prayer and faith can help me recover and stay grounded in God's process.

Jesus Himself modeled this divine patience—He didn’t hurry, even when His friend Lazarus was gravely ill. Instead, He arrived after Lazarus had died and performed a greater miracle by raising him from the dead. This shows that delays are not denials, but opportunities for God to work in unexpected and powerful ways. Rather than rushing ahead, I'm called to be joyful in hope, patient in difficulty, and faithful in prayer (Romans 12:12). Trusting in God's timing leads to deeper growth and even greater miracles.

Change Happens in God’s Power, Not Mine

“For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him.” Philippians 2:13 (NLT)

To experience God’s hope and comfort, I need to see who he is in order to see who I really am—it’s only then I’ll be able to see how he can change me.

Change often triggers two negative reactions. First, “I don’t have the time or energy to change.” Life feels too busy—too many responsibilities, too many tasks, too much to handle. Second, “Who am I kidding? God can’t change me. I’ve tried a hundred times, failed, and feel like I’ve disappointed everyone, including God.”

Both reactions come from the false belief that change depends entirely on me. That mindset is exhausting and discouraging. If I have to sustain my own motivation to change every day, I’ll eventually give up. But God offers a better way.

Isaiah 40:28-31 reminds us where true power comes from: “The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of all the earth. He never grows weak or weary. No one can measure the depths of his understanding. He gives power to the weak and strength to the powerless. Even youths will become weak and tired, and young men will fall in exhaustion. But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint” (NLT).

Real change isn’t about my power. It’s about God’s power working in me. Picture this: my efforts are like a hummingbird whose little wings are fluttering so fast. I flitter here for hope, there for hope, up for hope, down for hope—trying to get hope in my life.  I'm worn out by trying to get to a place of hope on my own.

But God’s power is like an eagle, soaring on the updrafts of wind. Eagles don’t struggle—they rise because they are designed to catch the wind. Similarly, God designed my soul to soar on the updraft of his love, not my own striving.

To tap into his power, I must stop flitting from one place to another in search of hope and instead say, “God, I need you. I trust you moment by moment.” That’s when I'll feel the updraft of his love, strength, and power.

Philippians 2:13 says, “For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him” (NLT). God gives me the desire to change, even when I don’t feel it, and he also gives me the power to take the next step. Change happens when I stop relying on my own strength and start trusting in God’s strength and power to transform  life.

Hope doesn’t come not from trying harder, but from trusting deeper. God wants me to remember this truth and to continually turn back to him because he is the one who gives me strength to soar.  

In summary:

True change doesn’t come from my own effort but from God working in me.

Philippians 2:13 reminds us that God not only gives us the desire to do what pleases Him, but also the power to do it. When change feels overwhelming or impossible, it’s usually because I think it all depends on me. That mindset is exhausting and unsustainable.

But God never grows tired or weary (Isaiah 40:28–31). He gives strength to those who trust in Him. Rather than flitting through life like a tired hummingbird chasing hope, God invites me to soar like an eagle—lifted by His strength, not by my striving.

The key is to stop relying on my own power and instead trust God, moment by moment. Real hope and lasting transformation come not from trying harder, but from trusting deeper in God's strength and love.

To Reach My Dream, I Need to Dare to Be Different

“Noah was a righteous man, the only blameless person living on earth at the time, and he walked in close fellowship with God.” Genesis 6:9 (NLT)

If I want to fulfill my destiny—if I want to achieve my God-given dream, vision, or ambition—I must dare to be different from the culture.

Until I settle this, I'll never reach my dreams. I can’t fit in and be different or make a difference at the same time. I have to decide: “I’m willing to be different from the culture”—because the culture is headed one way, and God is heading another.

In Noah’s time, humanity hit rock bottom. It was morally bankrupt. 

Genesis 6:12 says, “God observed all this corruption in the world, for everyone on earth was corrupt” (NLT).

Sound familiar? Genesis 6:5-6 adds, “The LORD observed the extent of human wickedness on the earth, and he saw that everything they thought or imagined was consistently and totally evil. . . . It broke his heart” (NLT). 

Just 10 generations into human history, the world was already consumed by sin and evil.

What’s the trend today? Is the world moving toward God or away from him? It’s clear—it’s moving away. Jesus warned: “When the Son of Man returns, it will be like it was in Noah’s day” (Luke 17:26 NLT).

Culture will only worsen as we approach Christ’s return.

Amid this darkness, God saw one bright spot: Noah. In The Message paraphrase, Genesis 6:8 says, “But Noah was different. GOD liked what he saw in Noah” (MSG).

That phrase—“but Noah”—saved the world. Would God save the world because of my faithfulness? If God looked at today’s corruption, would he see a bright spot and say, “But Mark”?

Could God save the world through me?

Only two people have saved the world: Noah physically and Jesus spiritually. 

What set Noah apart? He wasn’t concerned with others’ opinions, approval, or trends. He dared to be different to fulfill his destiny—and so must I. If I blend in with the crowd, I can’t fulfill the calling God has placed on my life.

Great people march to a different beat. They’re unafraid to stand out. Remember this: I can only make a difference by being different.

This is what God desires: to look at your life and smile, saying, “That’s my child fulfilling their destiny.” Like Noah, live with integrity. Let your difference make a difference.

In summary:

It's important to stand apart from cultural norms to fulfill one’s God-given destiny. Using Noah as an example, it highlights how he remained righteous despite widespread corruption, earning God’s favor. The world in Noah’s time was morally bankrupt, much like today, and Jesus warned that history would repeat itself before His return. To make a difference, one must be willing to be different, resisting societal pressures and staying faithful to God’s calling. Ultimately, true impact for me will come from living with integrity and purpose, just as Noah did.

God, Help Me!

“We felt we were doomed to die and saw how powerless we were to help ourselves; but that was good, for then we put everything into the hands of God, who alone could save us, for he can even raise the dead.” 2 Corinthians 1:9 (TLB)

At some point in life, I’ll find myself in need of help. When that time comes, I first need to admit that I need help. And then I need to ask God for that help. In other words, move from “I need help” to “God, help me!”

When Paul, one of the greatest men of faith, hit rock bottom, that’s what he did. In the Living Bible paraphrase, Paul says, “We felt we were doomed to die and saw how powerless we were to help ourselves; but that was good, for then we put everything into the hands of God, who alone could save us, for he can even raise the dead” (2 Corinthians 1:9).

Think about that. If God can raise a dead person, then he also can raise a dead career, a dead dream, or a dead hope. He specializes in turning crucifixions into resurrections. God can do miracles when we hand everything over to him.

Notice that Paul said, “We put everything into the hands of God.” Everything! This is total surrender. It’s not just saying, “God, fix my finances,” or “God, fix my relationships.” It’s giving him every part of my life—the good, the bad, and the ugly. 

Have I come to a point where I say, “God, I give you my entire life—my joys, my pains, my victories, and my failures”?

Don’t wait until you hit bottom. Don’t let life force me into surrender. 

There’s an easy way and a hard way to change. The easy way is to see the light; the hard way is to feel the heat. Unfortunately, most of us resist change until the pain becomes unbearable. I shouldn't wait for everything to fall apart before asking God for help.

The Message paraphrase of the Bible says it this way: “You’re blessed when you’re at the end of your rope. With less of you there is more of God and his rule” (Matthew 5:3). When I finally let go, God will step in.

So here’s the process: First, admit I need help. Next, humbly ask God to take over. Then hand it all over—my problems, pride, pain—and watch how he can transform life.

In summary:

When life feels overwhelming, the first step is to admit that I need help and then turn to God. Paul, despite being a man of great faith, reached a point where he felt powerless. But in that moment, he completely surrendered to God, recognizing that only He could save him.

God specializes in reviving what seems lost—whether it’s a career, a dream, or hope itself. True surrender means giving everything to God, not just selective parts of life. Instead of waiting for hardship to force me into change, I should willingly hand over control to Him now.

Key Points:

✔️ Admit I need help – Recognize my limitations.

✔️ Ask God for help – Move from self-reliance to faith.

✔️ Fully surrender – Give every part of life to God.

✔️ Trust in God’s power – He can resurrect what seems lost.

✔️ Don’t wait for rock bottom – Choose to let go before life forces me to.

I'm Here, Now, for a Purpose

“Who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?” Esther 4:14 (NIV)

A lot of people think God only calls preachers and missionaries and those who are “super spiritual.” But God’s calling is for everyone! God has called every one of us to make a difference with our lives. The problem is that some of us are not picking up the phone.

I can’t just wonder what I should do with my life or figure it out for myself. I have to ask God what he created me to do. And then, day by day, I have to look to God’s Word for confirmation that I'm doing what God wants me to do.

It’s time to answer God’s call!

Discerning a call is not just a matter of life and death like it was for Esther—it’s more important than life or death because eternity is in the balance. It's not just talking about helping people in the here and now. We’re talking about their eternal destinies. My calling includes my mission—to tell other people about the gospel, that Jesus loves them and wants to be their Savior and friend, that he died so they could know God and be with him forever.

God is working all things for his good. And I can be part of that—when I tell God that I'll go wherever he wants me to go and do whatever he wants me to do.

In Esther 4:13-14, Esther’s cousin Mordecai sends this word to her: “Do not think because you are in the king’s house you alone of all the Jews will escape. For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father’s family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?” (NIV).

Mordecai knew that this young, poor, orphaned, Jewish girl had not become the queen of Persia by accident. He knew that God put her in that position “for such a time as this.”

God has a destiny for my life. He brought me to this place at this time for a purpose. If I want to know what he has called me to do, I only have to ask and listen.

In summary:

God's calling is for everyone, not just preachers. Like Esther, I am placed where I am for a reason. I must seek God’s purpose, listen, and respond. My mission includes sharing His love and making an eternal impact. Now is the time to answer His call.

My mission—to tell other people about the gospel, that Jesus loves them and wants to be their Savior and friend, that he died so they could know God and be with him forever.

Patience and Persistence Will Bring Success

“But these things I plan won’t happen right away. Slowly, steadily, surely, the time approaches when the vision will be fulfilled. If it seems slow, do not despair, for these things will surely come to pass. Just be patient! They will not be overdue a single day!” Habakkuk 2:3 (TLB)

If I don’t make plans in life, I'm just going to drift. In Genesis 24, the story of Eleazar gives helpful steps for getting where you want to go.

We’ve already learned why it’s important to:

• Determine your present position
• Describe exactly what you want
• Find a promise from God
• Ask God for help
• Identify the barriers
• Create a step-by-step plan

Here's another step: Be patient and persistent.

Accomplishing big goals in life isn’t going to happen overnight. The bigger my goal, the longer it will take. The more significant my goal, the more time and energy will be involved. Reaching goals takes time and discipline. 

Nothing great is ever accomplished without patience, persistence, determination, and endurance. I need to set big goals and spend the rest of my life going after them. 

Eleazar did this. Genesis 24:21 says, “The servant watched [Rebekah] in silence, wondering whether or not the LORD had given him success in his mission” (NLT). And Genesis 24:33 says, “Then food was served. But Abraham’s servant said, ‘I don’t want to eat until I have told you why I have come.’ ‘All right,’ Laban said, ‘tell us’” (NLT).

He was an example of great patience and persistence.

Here’s the point:  For me to reach my goals, I'm going to have to learn how to delay gratification.  

The difference between successful people and unsuccessful people is that successful people do things unsuccessful people are unwilling to do.

Successful people often do things they don’t feel like doing. Successful people know how to delay gratification. They do the right, tough thing before they do the fun, enjoyable thing.

The Living Bible paraphrase says, “But these things I plan won’t happen right away. Slowly, steadily, surely, the time approaches when the vision will be fulfilled. If it seems slow, do not despair, for these things will surely come to pass. Just be patient! They will not be overdue a single day!” (Habakkuk 2:3). 

God says it’s going to happen—but it’s going to take a while. One of the marks of maturity is learning the difference between no and not yet. 

And God is more interested in what I am than what I do. He’s much more interested in my character than my career. Because I'm not taking my career to heaven. I'm taking my character. So while I'm working on my goal, God is working on me.

In summary:

Achieving big goals takes time, discipline, and endurance. Success requires delayed gratification—doing the hard things first. Like Eleazar in Genesis 24, I must stay focused and trust God’s timing. Maturity means recognizing "not yet" is not "no." While I pursue my goals, God is shaping my character.