“Jesus stopped and said, ‘Call him.’ So they called the blind man and said to him, ‘Have courage! Get up; He’s calling for you.’” Mark 10:49 (HCSB)
Several years ago, my daughter’s 4x800-meter relay team qualified for the statewide track and field championships. My daughter told me her only goal was to beat the team with the yellow uniforms.
Her competitive nature has at times thrown off her running ability, so I looked my girl in the eye and encouraged her to focus on her race: “Taylor, remember to stay in your lane. Run hard. And pass the baton!”
Do you know what happened? Her team not only finished strong but also set the school record! Focus brought her freedom.
Some time later, as I came across the story of Bartimaeus in Mark 10:46-52, I was captured by his focus. Scripture tells us that Bartimaeus was blind and that he sat by the side of the road in Jericho, calling out to Jesus for mercy. Many people around Bartimaeus told him to be quiet. It seemed Jesus would just pass him by. But Bartimaeus was focused and kept calling out.
Finally, someone told him, “Have courage! Get up; [Jesus is] calling for you” (Mark 10:49). After a short exchange, Jesus told Bartimaeus his faith had healed him, and he was able to see. Bartimaeus’ focus brought him freedom.
It is so easy for me to lose focus. Even while writing this devotion, I’ve turned away three times to look at something else on the internet. But I want to have extreme Christ-focus like Bartimaeus so that when Jesus is passing through my everyday life, I’m ready.
I don’t want to miss miracle moments with Jesus because I allow life to distract and detour me. So today, to help me focus, I’m reminding myself (and you, my friends) of those same three things I told my daughter:
1. Stay in your lane. We have everything we need to encounter Jesus right where we are. We are not invisible. Jesus sees and hears us.
2. Run hard. Let’s persevere like Bartimaeus — he had the benefit of encountering Jesus face-to-face, but through the work of the Holy Spirit, we now have Christ with us at all times. We just need to keep praying. Keep meditating on the Truth of God’s Word. Stay the course. Keep speaking His name.
3. Pass it on. The last verse of this story says “immediately [Bartimaeus] could see and began to follow [Jesus] on the road” (Mark 10:52, HCSB). I smiled when I read that. It's as if Bartimaeus thought, I am the proof of Jesus’ healing touch, so where He goes, I will go! What has Jesus done in us that others need to see? We can pass on the proof.
As we stay in our lane, run hard, and pass it on — no matter how blurry life seems — our focus on Jesus will always bring us freedom.
God, help me to see You passing by me today. I want to encounter all the miracle moments You have for me. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
July 13 is almost here — and this is your chance to step into our next study from the very beginning. Don’t Let Go starts soon in the First 5 app, and there’s something powerful about opening God’s Word alongside other women who are choosing not to go back to broken patterns. You don’t have to figure this out on your own. You just have to take the next step. If you’ve been thinking about joining, now’s the time! You can get your Don’t Let Go study guide today from the Proverbs 31 Bookstore and be ready to dive in when the study begins.
Connect with Nicki on her website or Instagram!
Mark 10:51, “Then Jesus answered him, ‘What do you want Me to do for you?’ ‘Rabbouni,’ the blind man told Him, ‘I want to see!’” (HCSB).
What is one thing that distracts you from focusing on Jesus? What can you do today to keep your focus on Him?
Share your ideas in the comments. You never know how you might pass on some encouragement to someone else reading the comments.
© 2026 by Nicki Koziarz. All rights reserved.
Join the Conversation