Scripture and Prayer Focus for August 23, 2026

 August 23 -- John 5: 1-7 "After this there was a feast of the Jews, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. Now there is in Jerusalem by the Sheep Gate a pool, in Aramaic called Bethesda, which has five roofed colonnades. In these lay a multitude of invalids -- blind, lame, and paralyzed. One man was there who had been an invalid for thirty-eight years. When Jesus saw him lying there and knew that he had already been there a long time, he said to him, 'Do you want to be healed?' The sick man answered him, 'Sir, I have no one to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up, and while I am going another steps down before me.' 

Prayer focus for today: Today's scripture passage shows us a perfect question from Jesus to the invalid man by the pool. A question that seems ridiculous at first, as we KNOW anyone with a disability would most certainly choose to be freed from it, if it was possible. However, it's a perfect question, because it's a question we ALL need to be asked over and over again. 

If you are a Christian, when you first chose to follow Jesus, He asked you the same question. "Do you want to be healed ... of your sin."  In that moment, your soul said, "Yes!"   Yet, how often do you still turn to those 'comfortable' sins?  The ones you allow Satan to convince you are "no big deal"? The ones you are so comfortable committing that you just overlook them? If you've never chosen to follow Jesus, He's asking you if you want to be healed ... we all pray you'll say, "Yes!" today. 

Pray today that God will open your eyes and your heart today to the true "healing" you need. It's different for each of us, so truly do some soul searching. He's able, He's ready, and He's willing to provide, so just answer Jesus with a resounding YES -- it will be the most healing 'yes' you've ever said!