Maybe it’s just me but I often talk to God (aka prayer) in a list format. I don’t do this with any of my other relationships: my parents, my wife, my friends or colleagues. Just God. It’s a bad habit and one that I’m sure you can identify with.

We often fall into the trap of thinking that God can only do what we ask him. That only the things that make the prayer list will get done, and that’s why we speak in list format. If we forget to mention our finances, then they won’t be blessed. If somehow something important slips our mind, then it won’t be covered. “We have not because we ask not”, right?

In Luke 5:17-27, we find the story of the paralytic man. His friends bring him to Jesus to be healed. They literally tear the roof off the house where Jesus is, lower him before the Son of God and wait with bated breath for Jesus to tell the man to get up and walk… But he doesn’t. The Bible says that he “sees their faith” and instead tells the man “Your sins are forgiven.”

Wait what? His sins?! What about his legs?! You see, Jesus sees the real need. He knows what the man truly needs from him is not healing, but forgiveness. It wasn’t on the ‘list’ but it’s what Jesus does. Because he knows everything, he can see what we actually need, not just what we think we need.

The best part is that Jesus heals the man too. He deals with the main thing and then covers what they asked for too. He’s good like that.