Barb Totterdell 4th February 2018 ~ “What do you want me to do for you?”

What do you ask of Jesus? How do you respond to his questions to you?At our morning prayer time, the staff and others are currently reading through the book of Mark and Thursday morning’s reading had Jesus asking two different lots of people the same question: “What do you want me to do for you?” The first people he put this question to were James and John who asked Jesus to grant them to sit at his left and right in his glory. The second was the blind man Bartimaeus who asked Jesus to let him see again. How would you respond to Jesus today if he asked you, “What do you want me to do for you?” And what would your answer say about what is in your heart? The responses of James and John and Bartimaeus show what was in each of their respective hearts.On Monday morning, I and some other members of St Philips had the opportunity to hear a lecture on wisdom given by Peter Adam, who had been the principle of theological college that I studied at. A precious opportunity. I was struck once again by the truth that everything we do flows from our heart. Proverbs 4:23 says Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it. As part of his lecture, Peter encouraged us to pray prayers that shape our heart, prayers that shape who we will become. As examples, he spoke of  regularly praying, “Gracious God, please give me a wise heart today” and,  “God please train me to be single-minded.” As our hearts grow in these things, our thoughts, actions and words will all be impacted.So what kind of prayers are you praying? What are you asking Jesus for? What do they say about your heart? How might you pray for him to so shape your heart that you might be deeply changed and out of which thoughts, words and actions might flow that bring life to the world . . . and yourself? What might he be inviting you to ask him for?God longs to give good gifts to his children. As we ask for wisdom, James 1:5 says that God, who gives to all generously and ungrudgingly, will give it to us. And Matthew 7:8 says For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.What are you asking the Father for? How would you respond to Jesus’ question, “What do you want me to do for you?”Blessings,Barb