Read this glorious story of prayer.

Mark 10:46-52 ESV ⁴⁶And they came to Jericho. And as he was leaving Jericho with his disciples and a great crowd, Bartimaeus, a blind beggar, the son of Timaeus, was sitting by the roadside. ⁴⁷And when he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out and say, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” ⁴⁸And many rebuked him, telling him to be silent. But he cried out all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” ⁴⁹And Jesus stopped and said, “Call him.” And they called the blind man, saying to him, “Take heart. Get up; he is calling you.” ⁵⁰And throwing off his cloak, he sprang up and came to Jesus. ⁵¹And Jesus said to him, “What do you want me to do for you?” And the blind man said to him, “Rabbi, let me recover my sight.” ⁵²And Jesus said to him, “Go your way; your faith has made you well.” And immediately he recovered his sight and followed him on the way.

I love this story which is sad, humorous and exemplary at the same time.  Sad in that this man was blind and broke, resorting to begging for money.  What a humiliating and frightening situation, not knowing if you would even survive another day.  The story is also humorous in that he is shouting to Jesus to heal him, but many people tell him to shut up.  So how does he respond to their rebukes? Does he listen to them?  Does he get embarrassed that he is making a scene?  No, he just shouts all the more and all the louder!  (This reminds me of sibling rivalry, where one sibling will tell the other, “Stop it,” and instead of stopping they do it even more.)  Then the story is exemplary in that Bartimaeus persists in prayer to Jesus until he gets what he wants and needs.

Am I that persistent? Do I want something that badly that I will keep calling out to Jesus until I get it?  Do I believe so strongly that Jesus is both willing and able to help me that I won’t give up until He answers?

Fundamentally, prayer (which this story is essentially about) requires two basic attitudes in us:  1.  We must want something badly like Bartimaeus, and 2.  We must believe that Jesus has the power and the willingness to help us.

Examine my own prayer life. Certainly times when I have been most desperate in prayer is when my need has been the greatest.  So do not despise trials that make me desperate for Jesus’ help.  Rather, welcome the trials as friends.  And the times when I have been most persistent in prayer is when I am convinced Jesus loves me, cares deeply for me, AND has the power to give what I ask for:  “What do you want me to do for you?” Oh, what a beautiful question from Jesus.

Conversely, when my prayer life lacks, I may be able to simply examine these two attitudes and conclude either I don’t see that I have much need or I don’t believe Jesus cares and has the power to help.

Be like Bartimaeus in prayer! Be hungry and desperate for help. Let nothing or no one hinder me in prayer.  Let no obstacle in my life loom so large that Jesus cannot or will not conquer it.  Believe Jesus will hear; believe and do not doubt.