On Wednesday nights my church is showing a film on the life of Christ, taken from the book of John. So, last Wednesday I'm sitting in my pew, alone because my husband doesn't come on Wednesday nights and my son was in his Bible class, and I'm watching as Jesus deals with the blind man from the 9th chapter. Jesus spit on the ground, made some mud, and put it on the man's eyes. I'd never really thought about the fact that the blind man couldn't see what was going on so was probably sitting there somewhat passively. Then, Jesus said, "Go, wash in the Pool of Siloam." The blind man jumped up and went.
Wow, without question, the blind man jumped up and went.
I wonder how many times I didn't jump up and go.
That blind man had faith.
Personally, for me, I've found that my faith is stronger when my prayer life is stronger, so, of course, I'm always working on praying. The strongest my prayer life was, was in the early 2000s. I prayed to God every time I got in the car. I'd turn the radio off and I'd pray. My lips would move; sometimes my hands would, too. I was praying for something I had no control over: something I couldn't fix. Sometimes I felt so close to him it was almost tangible. I wasn't blind, but I did need healing. God answered my prayer, that time with a yes. (That yes is turning four next month!)
I didn't stop praying, but I've yet to recapture the closeness I had when I wanted something that I prayed four years for. Interestly enough, as I sit here staring at this blog, I'm thinking that I still pray just as often, but now so often, I'm giving thanks... and I was closer to God when I laying a huge need at his feet.