I AM PERSUADED THAT HE IS ABLE:
TO TAKE NOTICE WHEN WE PRAY (part 1)
Matthew 8:8 The centurion answered and said, Lord, I am not worthy that thou shouldest come under my roof: but speak the word only, and my servant shall be healed.
10 When Jesus heard it, he marvelled, and said to them that followed, Verily I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel.
Jesus had just entered Capernaum. As He did, a centurion came to him and announced a need to Jesus. He told Jesus that he had a servant that was at home and was sick with palsy. Now we are not sure if this was one of his soldiers or if this was basically an individual that worked for him as a house servant. That is really not the point. The lesson here is what this centurion said that really got the attention of Jesus.
We all have things that come up in our life that require us to beseech Jesus to work miracles. The first thing I believe that got the attention of Jesus was that this man came on behalf of someone else. “6 And saying, Lord, my servant lieth at home sick of the palsy, grievously tormented.” It really wasn’t something that this man desired for himself. He was burdened for someone else. I believe that Jesus honors it when we are unselfish in our prayers and go to God on behalf of others.
We think that we do this more than we actually do. We often tell people that we will be praying for them, when in reality we don’t. I think that we often make more promises than we do prayers. If only we would realize that we would probably have more of our personal requests answered if God saw that our greatest burden was the needs of others. I believe it touches the heart of God when our hearts are touched with the needs of others.
I encourage you today, why don’t you spend today praying for the needs of others. In fact, it might not hurt to determine to not ask God for anything that has to do with your desires today. Spend the day asking God to help, bless, heal, and meet the needs of others. I think that would get God’s attention immediately.