I think it should have been pretty obvious.

Two blind men sitting by the side of a road.  Jesus comes by with a huge crowd following close behind. The blind men are making a commotion with their cries for mercy. The crowd tries to get  them to be quiet and that makes them cry out even more.

The stage is set. Here’s the omnipotent miracle worker and two sightless men and a worked-up crowd.  But Jesus doesn’t do the obvious.  He stops and asks them a question instead.

“What do you want Me to do for you?”  

Really?  Couldn’t He  have figured it out?  They’re blind!  I wonder if they thought He was kidding.  But they didn’t skip a beat.  They answered quickly, “Lord, we want our eyes to be opened”.

Sometimes you just need to be specific.

So, if I was sitting by the side of the road and Jesus came by and asked me exactly what I wanted Him to do for me, what would I say?    Would I stumble over my words?  Would I stutter and avert my eyes and say something acceptable and generic like, “Well, Lord, whatever You want”?

Would Jesus take my lowered chin in His hand, lift it up, look me in the eyes and say, “Really, Sharon, what do you want me to do for you?”

Of course He knows our need. Of course He knows what will happen next.  But sometimes He wants to hear it from us, in our words, from our hearts. Jesus wants us to ask.

Don’t just cry out.  Don’t be shy.

Be specific.

What do you want me to do for you?  Matthew 20:32

Until now you have asked nothing in My name.  Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full.  John 16:24

Lord, You have heard the desire of the humble.  You will prepare their heart.  You will cause Your ear to hear.  Psalm 10:17

Then you will call upon Me, and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you.   Jeremiah 29:12

(adapted from a post originally published in 2010)