What Do You Want the Lord to Do?

Nov 09, 2025

Devotional

Day 1: Boldly Ask God for Personal Blessing

God invites us to come to Him with our deepest needs and desires, not with timidity but with boldness and faith. Like Bartimaeus, who cried out to Jesus despite the crowd’s attempts to silence him, we are encouraged to make our requests known to God, believing that He cares about our personal situations and is able to do more than we can ask or imagine. The Lord is not distant or uninterested in the details of our lives; He delights in hearing the honest prayers of His children and responding in ways that reveal His power and love. Do not let fear, doubt, or the opinions of others keep you from bringing your heartfelt requests before the throne of grace. [56:44]

Mark 10:46-52 (NIV)
Then they came to Jericho. As Jesus and his disciples, together with a large crowd, were leaving the city, a blind man, Bartimaeus (which means “son of Timaeus”), was sitting by the roadside begging. When he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to shout, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” Many rebuked him and told him to be quiet, but he shouted all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” Jesus stopped and said, “Call him.” So they called to the blind man, “Cheer up! On your feet! He’s calling you.” Throwing his cloak aside, he jumped to his feet and came to Jesus. “What do you want me to do for you?” Jesus asked him. The blind man said, “Rabbi, I want to see.” “Go,” said Jesus, “your faith has healed you.” Immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus along the road.

Reflection: What is one specific, personal request you have been hesitant to bring before God? Will you boldly ask Him for it today, trusting in His love and power?

Day 2: God’s Power Is Still Relevant Today

It is easy to read the miraculous stories of Scripture and wonder if God still works in such powerful ways in our lives today. Yet, the same God who healed Bartimaeus and worked wonders in the first century is alive and active now, desiring to display His glory in our generation. The principles of faith, prayer, and God’s faithfulness are not confined to the past; they are just as true and effective for us as they were for those who walked with Jesus. Do not settle for average or mediocre faith—believe that God wants to do great things in your life, your family, and your church, even now. [52:17]

Ephesians 3:20-21 (NIV)
Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.

Reflection: Where have you doubted that God’s power and promises are still relevant for you today? How can you step out in faith and expect Him to work in your life this week?

Day 3: Remove What Hinders and Embrace God’s New Work

Bartimaeus threw off his cloak—a symbol of his old life and identity as a beggar—before coming to Jesus. In the same way, we are called to let go of anything that holds us back from experiencing God’s new work in our lives, whether it is sin, bitterness, complacency, or old patterns. God delights in giving us a new heart, a new song, and new mercies every day. To receive what God has for us, we must be willing to release what is familiar but limiting, making room for His transforming grace and purpose. [01:06:43]

Hebrews 12:1-2 (NIV)
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Reflection: What is one “cloak” you need to throw off—an attitude, habit, or sin—that is keeping you from fully embracing God’s new work in your life?

Day 4: Respond to the Call of Christ

Jesus is still calling people today—to salvation, to deeper faith, to new steps of obedience, and to service in His kingdom. Like Bartimaeus, we must be ready to respond when Jesus calls, setting aside excuses, fears, or the voices of criticism around us. Whether He is calling you to trust Him for the first time, to pray for someone’s salvation, to serve in a new way, or to surrender a burden, the invitation is personal and urgent. The greatest blessings come when we answer His call with faith and obedience, following Him wherever He leads. [01:09:19]

Jeremiah 33:3 (NIV)
‘Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.’

Reflection: How is Jesus calling you to respond to Him today? What step of faith or obedience is He inviting you to take, and will you say yes?

Day 5: Praise God Before the Blessing

Bartimaeus called Jesus “Son of David,” acknowledging Him as the promised Messiah and giving Him praise even before his healing came. True faith praises God not only after the answer arrives but in anticipation of His goodness and faithfulness. When we worship God for who He is and trust His character, our hearts are prepared to receive whatever He chooses to give. Let your prayers be filled with praise, declaring God’s greatness and thanking Him in advance for the ways He will work in your life. [01:01:11]

Psalm 138:8 (NIV)
The Lord will vindicate me; your love, Lord, endures forever—do not abandon the works of your hands.

Reflection: What is one area where you need to praise God in advance, trusting Him before you see the answer? How can you express that praise today?

Sermon Summary

In Mark 10, we encounter the story of blind Bartimaeus, a man whose life was defined by his need and his boldness in seeking Jesus. As Jesus passed by, Bartimaeus did not let the crowd or his circumstances silence him. He cried out, “Son of David, have mercy on me!”—a declaration of faith and recognition of Jesus as the promised Messiah. Even when others tried to quiet him, Bartimaeus persisted, believing that Jesus not only could heal him but would, if he asked. This is a powerful reminder that God invites us to bring our deepest needs and desires to Him, not with timidity, but with confidence rooted in His character and promises.

The question Jesus asks Bartimaeus—“What do you want me to do for you?”—is one of the most significant questions in all of Scripture. It is not a generic inquiry, but a deeply personal invitation. God is not only concerned with the grand issues of the world; He cares about the specific burdens and hopes of each heart. Too often, we hesitate to ask God for personal blessing, thinking it selfish or insignificant. Yet Scripture assures us that the Lord will accomplish what concerns us, and that He delights to give good gifts to His children.

Bartimaeus’s request was not only personal, but powerful. He asked for something only God could do, providing an opportunity for God’s glory to be displayed. We are often content with small prayers, forgetting the staggering nature of God’s promises. God searches for those whose hearts are fixed on Him, ready to show Himself strong on their behalf.

Another striking detail is Bartimaeus’s act of throwing off his cloak—a symbol of his old life and identity as a beggar. When we come to Jesus, we are called to lay aside whatever hinders us, whether it be sin, bitterness, or mediocrity, and to make room for the new work God desires to do in us. God’s mercies are new every day, and He delights in replacing the old with the new.

Finally, Bartimaeus responded to Jesus’s call, following Him on the road. Jesus is still calling today—inviting us to bold faith, to new beginnings, to deeper surrender, and to specific acts of obedience. The question remains: What do you want the Lord to do for you? Will you ask, believe, and respond?

Key Takeaways

1. Boldly Ask God for Personal Blessing God invites us to bring our specific needs and desires to Him, not just general or “safe” prayers. Bartimaeus’s example shows that God cares about the details of our lives and delights to answer when we ask in faith. We should not let fear of selfishness or insignificance keep us from seeking God’s intervention in our personal circumstances. [58:01]
2. Remove What Hinders God’s New Work Bartimaeus threw off his cloak, symbolizing a willingness to let go of his old identity and anything that would hinder him from receiving God’s blessing. In our lives, this means releasing sin, bitterness, or even comfort zones that keep us from experiencing God’s best. God often replaces the old with something new and far better, but we must be willing to let go. [66:09]
3. Persist Despite Criticism and Doubt The crowd tried to silence Bartimaeus, but he persisted in faith. Often, when we step out to trust God for something big, we will face opposition—whether from others, from the enemy, or from our own doubts. The call of Christ and the criticism of the crowd are often in conflict; we must choose to listen to Jesus and not be deterred by voices that discourage bold faith. [63:02]
4. Respond to the Call of Christ When Jesus called, Bartimaeus responded immediately and followed Him. God’s call may come in many forms—an invitation to salvation, a call to ministry, or a prompting to pray for someone. The blessing is found not just in asking, but in responding with obedience and surrender, trusting that God’s plans are good and His power is sufficient. [68:38]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[47:14] - Reading Mark 10:46-52
[48:30] - Prayer for God’s Word
[49:45] - The Story of Bartimaeus
[50:21] - Building Boldness in Faith
[51:40] - Relevance of Biblical Miracles Today
[52:55] - Jesus’ Transforming Question
[54:10] - Reflecting on the Year and God’s Work
[56:07] - What Do You Want God to Do?
[56:44] - Requesting with Confidence
[58:01] - The Power of Personal Requests
[59:56] - Prayers that Display God’s Power
[63:02] - Overcoming Criticism and Doubt
[65:33] - Removing the Old for the New
[68:38] - Responding to Jesus’ Call
[73:42] - Invitation and Response
[76:12] - Closing Prayer and Benediction

Bible Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide: Mark 10:46-52 – The Bold Faith of Bartimaeus

Bible Reading

Mark 10:46-52 (ESV)
46 And they came to Jericho. And as he was leaving Jericho with his disciples and a great crowd, Bartimaeus, a blind beggar, the son of Timaeus, was sitting by the roadside.
47 And when he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out and say, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!”
48 And many rebuked him, telling him to be silent. But he cried out all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!”
49 And Jesus stopped and said, “Call him.” And they called the blind man, saying to him, “Take heart. Get up; he is calling you.”
50 And throwing off his cloak, he sprang up and came to Jesus.
51 And Jesus said to him, “What do you want me to do for you?” And the blind man said to him, “Rabbi, let me recover my sight.”
52 And Jesus said to him, “Go your way; your faith has made you well.” And immediately he recovered his sight and followed him on the way.

Observation Questions

What title does Bartimaeus use to address Jesus, and why is this significant? ([01:00:33])
How does Bartimaeus respond when the crowd tries to silence him? ([56:44])
What does Bartimaeus do with his cloak when Jesus calls him, and what might this action represent? ([01:05:33])
After receiving his sight, what is Bartimaeus’s response to Jesus? ([01:08:38])

Interpretation Questions

Why might Jesus have asked Bartimaeus, “What do you want me to do for you?” even though his need seemed obvious? What does this reveal about how God relates to us? ([52:55])
The sermon mentions that Bartimaeus’s request was both personal and powerful. Why is it important to bring specific and bold requests to God, rather than only general or “safe” prayers? ([58:01])
The crowd tried to discourage Bartimaeus from calling out to Jesus. What kinds of “crowd voices” might discourage believers today from seeking God boldly? ([01:03:02])
Bartimaeus threw off his cloak before coming to Jesus. What are some things in a person’s life that might need to be “thrown off” in order to fully respond to Jesus’s call? ([01:06:09])

Application Questions

Jesus asked Bartimaeus, “What do you want me to do for you?” If Jesus asked you that question today, how would you answer? Is there a specific area in your life where you need to boldly ask God for help or blessing? ([52:55])
The sermon challenges us not to let fear of selfishness or insignificance keep us from asking God for personal blessing. Have you ever hesitated to pray for something personal because you thought it was too small or selfish? How might your prayers change if you believed God delights in answering personal requests? ([58:01])
Bartimaeus persisted in calling out to Jesus even when others tried to silence him. Can you think of a time when you faced criticism, doubt, or discouragement for stepping out in faith? How did you respond, and what can you learn from Bartimaeus’s example? ([01:03:02])
Bartimaeus threw off his cloak—a symbol of his old life—before coming to Jesus. Is there something in your life (a habit, attitude, sin, or comfort zone) that you sense God is asking you to “throw off” so you can experience something new? What would it look like to take that step this week? ([01:06:09])
After his healing, Bartimaeus immediately followed Jesus. What might it look like for you to respond to Jesus’s call in your current season of life? Is there a specific act of obedience or surrender God is prompting you toward? ([01:08:38])
The sermon mentioned that God often replaces the old with something new and far better. Where in your life do you need to make room for God’s new work? How can you practically prepare your heart for that? ([01:07:22])
The pastor shared that sometimes the “call of Christ and the criticism of the crowd are often in conflict.” Are there voices or influences in your life that are making it hard to listen to Jesus? What steps can you take to tune out those voices and focus on what Jesus is saying to you? ([01:04:21])

Sermon Clips

“Sometimes when we read these great uh fantastic miraculous stories from scripture, it's uh can be a struggle to believe that these principles still apply to our life in the 21st century. It can be a struggle to read these amazing stories and falsely conclude that the power and the glory of God was reserved for a select group of people in a specific time in history.”

“Just as a basketball goal is the same height in a small gym or a big coliseum, the same principles that worked in the Bible characters in the first century still work in Alabaster, Alabama in 2025. And it's not a a belief or a struggle with accuracy as much as it is with relevancy. Believing that these stories still matter today.”

“Today's message contains one of the most important questions recorded in all of scripture where Jesus asked blind Barnameus, "What do you want the Lord to do for you?" I'm convinced that if you can answer that question honestly and faithfully, meaning that you possess a spiritual conviction that God still keeps his promises, then your life will be transformed for the glory of God in a way that exceeds our expectation and imagination.”

“And while making plans is certainly a profitable exercise, evaluating where you've been and what you're doing now is certainly profitable and it's a helpful tool. But there is one aspect of experiencing divine blessing that's often overlooked in the planning process.”

“In addition to personal effort, we should be asking God to do for us that we could never accomplish in our own strength. Even if we were to get more resources, we would never be able to accomplish what God can do.”

“As you consider this question, what do you want the Lord to do for you? Do you need the Lord to do something for your family or in your marriage that you can never accomplish just through personal effort? Do you need doors open, mountains move? Do you need giants slain? Is there a loved one that needs to be saved? Are you facing financial, physical, or spiritual challenge that requires supernatural intervention?”

“One of the first lessons we learn from this story then is to request with confidence. Notice there's nothing shy about the request that Barnameus makes. The Bible says he even shouts his request that he boldly cries out to Jesus, "Son of David, have mercy on And then when they told him to be quiet, he shouts louder, "Son of David, have mercy on me."”

“He believed that Jesus possessed the power to heal his blindness. And he believed that Jesus would heal him if he asked. We're told in the scripture to come boldly before the throne of God. Hebrews 10:19 says that we approach the throne of God boldly because of the blood of Jesus. The Bible describes God as a heavenly father who desires to bestow good things upon his children.”

“Notice there's several characteristics of Barnameus's request. First, it was personal. Jesus didn't ask Bardus, "What was the biggest need in the world? This wasn't a beauty pageant question for Miss America when asked, "What are you going to do as you reign as Miss America?" And she says, "Well, I'm going to end world poverty and end racism and uh I'm going to accomplish world peace."”

“But many saints don't ask for blessing. Maybe they believe that the personal blessing is too selfish or that God is uh concerned about the big issues in the world that he really is not concerned about the little things that affect your life. But listen to the word of God today. Psalm 138 says, "The Lord will accomplish what concerns me. Your faithfulness, Lord, is everlasting. Do not abandon the works of your hands."”

“Meaning, it provided an opportunity for God to demonstrate his supernatural power. CS Lewis once said, "When I consider the prayers of the saints, I believe them to be too small, considering the staggering nature of God's promises. We're like a child who's content to play in a sandbox because he has no concept of a holiday at the sea."”

“God desires to demonstrate his power to those who have enough faith to ask for it. A third characteristic of the request was it demonstrated praise. Notice the title that Barnameus keeps saying, son of David. Son of David, son of David, son of David. He says it over and over and over again. It was the title given to the promised Messiah, the descendant of David.”

“There are some that are willing to praise the Lord if the Lord does what you want him to do or he gives you what you desire and he gives it in a way that you desire it when you desire it. But notice he praises the Lord in advance of the blessing.”

“And as we consider this question, what do you want the Lord to do for you? Will, we see all of these characteristics illustrated in the request of a bold request that it's personal, that it's powerful, and it's full of praise. It's similar to what Jesus taught in John chapter 14 as he assembles the disciples together in the upper room and he tells them, "Whatever you ask in my name, I will do it."”

“In addition to the physical blindness, we're told that there was another obstacle that could have prevented Barnameus from receiving this miracle. The Bible says in verse 48 that many rebuked him. Not only they rebuke him, they tell him to be quiet. It's one thing but to tell him one time, but the scripture says just like in John chapter nine where says that they hurled insults at the blind man.”

“Most people grow up in an average family. They attend average schools. They worship at an average church. And they offer average prayers. And when somebody begins to believe that a powerful God wants to manifest his grace and his power and his glory, it makes average believers uncomfortable. And this man boldly cries out for God to manifest his power in his life.”

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