Lent 2023 – Day 30 – Luke Chapter 18 verses 18-43
Welcome to our Daily reflections for Lent.
We have provided a number of ways of using these reflections.
- You can listen to it in podcast style by clicking on the first audio file. (approx 18 minutes);
- You can listen to the reflection and the prayers with a shortened length for personal prayer (approx 6 minutes);
- You can read your own version of the Bible and then listen to the reflection, play the hymn in the embedded YouTube clip and then listen to the prayer section;
- You can choose to just read through it and ignore the audio files; or
- any combination of the above.
Full Audio of today’s reflection.
Read Luke Chapter 18 verses 18-43. In your own preferred version. The audio uses the NIV.Audio of reflection
“What do you want me to do for you?”
One of the joys of prayer is that knowing no matter how stumbling our words may be God knows what we are trying to say. So why say it?
In today’s lesson we hear of the blind man coming to Jesus. Jesus knows he is blind and certainly knows that he wants to be given sight. Yet Jesus asks him this question – what do you want me to do?
The man is also clear and bold. He does not say – if you would like to … or maybe you would …. but very clearly asks “Lord I want to see”.
I wonder if you remember times when a child has held their hands out to you wanting something. In response you have slightly dipped your head and raised your eyebrows in an expression of – what are you asking me. Of course sometimes this just results in a more energetic stretching forward and demanding, primal sound utterances. We know what they want, they know we know what they want and a battle of wills ensues.
Perhaps we are sometimes like that with God expecting him to know what we want but not prepared to ask. Sometimes we do not feel it is worth asking because we think it will not make any difference and we will not be answered.
Finding music for this series and for hymn words I have written is a time consuming process and more often than not I find something only to discover it is copyright. Usually I find an alternative but for those times I have written to the composer to ask for permission I am prone to use the phrase if you don’t ask you don’t get.
As we travel through lent we also need to be clear and bold in what we are asking for in every situation in our lives. We want to see Jesus.
Hymn: Singing the Faith – 443 “Open my eyes Lord”
Contemplation Words
“ Lord I want to see”
Let us pray together.
Contemplative Prayer
Think of the words in order to understand context and meaning, Feel the meaning of the words with and in your heart, Pray, using the words, for yourself or others. With only a name and without explaining the reasons or pre-defining any answers. Listen for God’s voice in the quiet of your prayers. Pray using your own prayers or one of those which have been prepared below.Twitter Prayer
Add prayer. AmenFull Prayer
Copyright Notices
Reflections and Prayers
By Chris HancockHymns
Hymn words where displayed are in the Public Domain. Hymn organ recordings where used are from Small Church Music. Copyright notice: Rev. Clyde McLennan, performer in this collection, has assigned his performer rights in this collection to Hymnary.org. Non-commercial use of these recordings is permitted. Other hymns are from YouTube and covered by YouTube copyright processes.Bible Readings
Bible readings are from the New International Version (NIV) Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.Images
Images where used are from pixabay.com and free for commercial use no attribution required.Background Music
The background music in today’s recordings is: Music from Pixabay Relaxing Music Vol.12 – Relaxing Time slightly edited by Chris Hancock as permitted by the Pixabay licence.
