Mark 10 v. 47
When Bartimaeus heard that Jesus of Nazareth was nearby, he began to shout, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” 48 “Be quiet!” many of the people yelled at him.
In Mark 10:46-52, we are told of a blind man who shouted like a crazy man to get the attention of Jesus just to get his miracle. Unfortunately the people around him were not giving him the chance to flourish – they tried to Shhhh HIM UP – BUT Bartimaeus wasn’t about to miss out on his opportunity to receive his Sight that day. He knew what he wanted and he refused to be silenced by those around him. I would like to believe that there must have been a large crowd of people following Jesus when Bartimaeus started shouting aloud – His shout must have really been loud to penetrate through such a crowd.
If twitter, Instagram, FB had been there in their time I bet everyone would have been tweeting the tagline #DontShhhhMeUp #ItsGettingRealHere #BartimaeusGoneCray . This was a real relentless pursuit for change by Bartimaeus.
Today I want to encourage you with a few principles demonstrated by Bartimeaus that will change your life or at least challenge you to make some changes in your life.
RELENTLESS PURSUIT FOR CHANGE – What we can learn from Bartimeaus
- Have a Crazy Discontement #BartimaeusGoneCray
Have a crazy discontentment for settling for less. DON’T SETTLE!. Bartimaeus was tired of being blind. He was tired of being known as the Blind beggar who sits around and begs. There was a crazy discontentment in him that said “I will not settle for less – Blindness is not my portion for life – I will no longer be known as the blind beggar -I NEED A CHANGE TODAY”.
His attitude was “I might have been born blind – but I don’t have to stay blind forever” This ends TODAY!
I dare you to be like Bartimeaus who got sick and tired of being known as the blind beggar. The moment he knew that the Messiah was in town – He knew this was it! This was his chance to becoming a new Bartimeaus. Change had visited his town and there was no way on earth he was going to let that opportunity pass him by.Today I want to ask you – Have you settled for less? Have you become content with the state of things in your life? What in your life have you come to accept as normal and okay and yet it’s not God’s best for you? You might have been born a certain way – but you don’t have to stay that way if it is not God’s best for you! Whatever it is – I need you to stir up some crazy discontentment within you that causes you to SHOUT EVEN LOUDER, TO PRAY EVEN HARDER, TO PUSH EVEN MORE, TO PURSUE EVEN HARDER, TO KEEP ON KEEPING ON.
2. Do not be Hushed Up (Bartimaeus Refused to be Hushed Up) #Don’tShhhhhMeUp
I believe when Bartimaeus was shouting on top of his lungs– He was thinking –
“How dare you shhhh me up – You SHHH me because you yourselves can see – I cannot!!! – This is my opportunity to SEE– y’alls must be cray crayyy to think I am going to be dignified about this and be calm – Don’t Shhhhh me up!!! – I am so not about that life anymore! – J-E-S-U-S son of David have mercy on me!!!!!!”
Friend, refuse to be hushed up by society, by peoples around you, friends or family who have no clue about your purpose, dream, vision or destiny. If you know what you want and believe that Jesus has more for you – Don’t you dare be silenced? There are some people who will only see you as a blind beggar and the moment you try to stretch out in faith for better, they will try and hush you up. They will tell you every reason as to why you are unqualified (and how others are better qualified than you), they will highlight all your weaknesses all the while magnifying the strengths of others, they will say everything possible to make you rethink your decision to STEP OUT into your calling, purpose, dream, aspiration…etc They will even tell you how the Economy, Market Competition is bad that you can’t stand a chance…lol. You will hear Remarks like ….
- No body in this family has ever taken that route and succeeded – what makes you think you will make it.
- This a little out of you league, why don’t you try something else
- Did God really say….??? Maybe pray just a little bit more hey
- Don’t say I didn’t worn you. I am just being real with hey…
…just to silence you up
BUT REFUSE TO BE HUSHED UP. Change can be very uncomfortable; especially to those around you – so you need to FOCUS on your dream at all costs and be very mindful as to who’s around you, and whose advice you are taking.
If God has revealed it to you, gifted you, equipped you – please don’t be disqualified before you’ve even started. Today I want to challenge you that as you pursue your DREAM relentlessly, choose your associations wisely. Best believe that the people you associate with will determine the momentum at which you will become the “you” that God intended you to be.
Do not curve in or give up at the face of resistance. It is only those who are moving, who are progressing, and who are elevating that face resistance. Your resistance should be an indication that you are going somewhere. Anyone who has made it BIG TIME in this life – are those people who refuse to be silenced. Are those people who have a dream and will continue to pursue it against all odds? Are those people who were told that “that’s the worst idea in the history of ideas” but were not deterred by the negative remarks.
NO ONE EVER silences up a woman in labour even if they tried. Trying to tell a woman in labour (giving birth) to be quiet is asking for WAR! The baby inside her will cause her to push, scream, possibly look and sound cray cray – because at that time – all that matters in that moment is birthing that which is on the inside of her. Today I want you to PUSH the dream that is on the inside of you to life. NO MORE BEING SILENCED! God has gifted you on purpose. Its time the world experiences the gifting in you. Stir Up the Gift in You, Step out in faith, Trust God and may His Spirit guide you as you pursue your DREAM.
PROVERBS 16:3 (AMP)
Commit your works to the Lord [submit and trust them to Him], And your plans will succeed [if you respond to His will and guidance].
Devotional Prayer
Heavenly father we thank you because you have put great purpose, dreams and visions in us that need to be accomplished (birthed to life). I pray that we don’t sit on our purpose, dreams or visions simply because we don’t have cheerleaders to cheer us on. Remind us always of your enabling grace that is readily available for us to bring each and one of us into your purpose for our lives.Grant us the wisdom and discernment to recognize and silence voices that kill, steal or destroy that which you have purposed for our lives. Even in the face of adversity – give us strength to continue to pursue our destiny. Father, I silence every spirit of fear that attacks your children from being who you have purposed for them to be. You said in Your word that ‘You have not given us the spirit of timidity/fear but that of power, love and a sound mind” – So father we hold on to that promise as we boldly step into our purpose and calling. Thank you Lord. In Jesus Name, AMEN
Be blessed and stay encouraged
-Lady Rue J AKA Ruvimbo Judith
“Let Your Light Shine”
LRJ 