CHECK IN

What did you sense Jesus inviting you into as you read Luke 16-17 and leaned into the gratitude, contentment and generosity survey?

BIBLE

Read Luke 18:1-43 together. As part of this time, consider reading Luke 18:35-43 as a Lectio Divina exercise.

THIS WEEK’S READING: LUKE 18

Jesus dives deep into teaching about the heart of a disciple in this chapter. Luke relays some parables Jesus tells which elevate the faith and deeds of those rejected by society in opposition to the religious leadership who SHOULD be righteous. Jesus is, over and over again, trying to make the point that standing, wealth, birth, age, ability, or health does not keep anyone from the kingdom of God. It is the compassion of God that makes a way for all people to join Jesus in his Kingdom. “Who in the world can be saved,” they asked. To this question, notice the response of the blind beggar Luke introduces us to … “Lord, he said, “I want to see!” And Jesus said, “All right, receive your sight. Your faith has healed you.”

GUIDING QUESTIONS:

1. Why does Jesus want us to be persistent in prayer?
   

2. The common theme of articulating your desire keeps coming up. Why would God want to know what we desire?
   

3. When was a time you were unfiltered before God about what you wanted?
   

PRACTICE: WHAT DO YOU WANT (A SIMPLE PRACTICE FOR PROCESSING DESIRE WITH JESUS)

In Luke 18:35-43 we read the following: “As Jesus approached Jericho, a blind beggar was sitting beside the road. When he heard the noise of a crowd going past, he asked what was happening. They told him that Jesus the Nazarene was going by. So he began shouting, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” “Be quiet!” the people in front yelled at him. But he only shouted louder, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” When Jesus heard him, he stopped and ordered that the man be brought to him. As the man came near, Jesus asked him, “What do you want me to do for you?” “Lord,” he said, “I want to see!” And Jesus said, “All right, receive your sight! Your faith has healed you.” Instantly the man could see, and he followed Jesus, praising God. And all who saw it praised God, too.”

Notice Jesus’ question. “What do you want (me to do for you)?” Throughout the New Testament Gospels, we find Jesus asking people this question in a variety of ways.

This practice is designed to help you process your own desire with Jesus, who shows us that God is interested in engaging our desire, not ignoring or suppressing it.

1. Take a pack of index cards and a sharpie and find a comfortable place to sit and write.
   

2. Write down one thing you want on each card. Don’t filter. Simply write. One item per card. And keep writing.
   

3. When you think you’ve captured every desire, give some space for others to surface - get up and move, take a short walk, whatever, and then write some more.
   

4. Next, with the cards on the table, slowly read Luke 18:35-43 (above). Take time to envision Jesus approaching you, his commitment to being with and attending to you. Hear Jesus ask you, “What do you want me to do for you?”
   

5. With Jesus’ invitation in your ears, begin to read back through your cards, and pay attention to any themes that begin to emerge. In fact, it might be helpful to stack the cards according to theme.
   

6. Finally, pay attention to which of the cards, which theme, gets at what you really want - the desire beneath the desire, and voice
   that to Jesus, in response to his question. Then, simply sit in the moment, and hear him say, “All right…”
   

7. Don’t fret about how he’ll bring the desire to fruition, or if it will 7 look exactly like you think, but accept his goodness and
   commitment to your flourishing, and give thanks.