July 5, 2025

Key #1 to Effective Prayer – Being Specific

Over the next number of devotionals, I want to walk you through the keys to effective prayer. To start, I want to focus today’s devotional on Mark 10:46–52 where we find a very intriguing story.

Now they came to Jericho. As He went out of Jericho with His disciples and a great multitude, blind Bartimaeus, the son of Timaeus, sat by the road begging. And when he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out and say, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” Then many warned him to be quiet; but he cried out all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” So Jesus stood still and commanded him to be called. Then they called the blind man, saying to him, “Be of good cheer. Rise, He is calling you.” And throwing aside his garment, he rose and came to Jesus. So Jesus answered and said to him, “What do you want Me to do for you?” The blind man said to Him, “Rabboni, that I may receive my sight.” Then Jesus said to him, “Go your way; your faith has made you well.” And immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus on the road.

The question Jesus asked, “What do you want Me to do for you?”, seemed obvious, didn’t it? Everybody present knew Bartimaeus needed his eyes to be healed. Why would Jesus ask this question?

He wanted us to understand how important it is to be specific when we ask something of God. Bartimaeus’ faith had to become specific before it made him well. It was after he said, “Lord, that I might receive my sight,” that Jesus said, “Your faith has made you well.”

Being specific in what you request of God is the first key to effective prayer.

Read previous devotionals

July 6, 2025

Key #2 to Effective Prayer – Being Connected

Yesterday we found that the first key to effective prayer is the need to be specific when we pray. Today, I want to show you the second key: The need...

July 5, 2025

Key #1 to Effective Prayer – Being Specific

Over the next number of devotionals, I want to walk you through the keys to effective prayer. To start, I want to focus today’s devotional on Mark 10:46–52 where we...

July 4, 2025

Whom Do You Trust?

In Psalm 118:8–9, we are told this, It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man. It is better to trust in the LORD than...