Asking Is Not Enough: Embodying Our Intention to Receive
Asking is a powerful beginning, but on its own, it is not enough. Intention sets the course; embodiment carries it forward.
In Luke 18:41, Jesus asks a question that cuts straight to the heart:
“What do you want me to do for you?”
And the blind man answers with unwavering clarity:
“Lord, I want to see.”
This wasn’t just a cry for help it was an act of faith. A moment of full alignment between his desire, his words, and his readiness to receive. His clarity wasn’t about fixing his situation alone — it reflected an inner conviction, a turning toward healing and restoration.
Too often, we ask for change, but we don’t embody the ask. We don’t align our hearts, thoughts, and actions with what we say we want. But if we want to receive fully, we must be clear in our asking, intentional in our focus, and willing to step into the identity of someone who is truly open to transformation.
Asking opens the door, but embodiment walks us through it.
Looking Up: The Deeper Meaning of Desire
The word used when the blind man says, “I want to receive my sight,” is anablepsō — from ana (up) and blepō (to see). It literally means “to look upward.”
This is more than physical. It’s symbolic of reorientation — of turning toward God, aligning with higher truth, and looking at life from a new vantage point. It’s saying:
"I want restoration. I want to see clearly. I want to be made whole.”
This kind of receiving doesn’t begin with the eyes alone — it begins with the heart’s intention, spoken in faith and carried out through openness to change.
I love how much Scripture shows us that we are meant to embody our faith — that it isn’t merely about our physical experience, but involves our innermost parts. The biblical language doesn’t separate the body from the spirit; rather, it invites both into alignment. Our posture, breath, gaze,
and intention all become part of how we worship, how we heal, and how we live.
Looking up is more than a gesture — it’s a shift in orientation. It reminds me of how we use affirmations today — setting our intention with words, anchoring ourselves in truth, and aligning our thoughts with what we want to become. Scripture is rich with this same rhythm. Phrases, analogies, and parables all point toward inner transformation, not just external change.
In Matthew 13:13–16, Jesus addresses a crowd that sees and hears — but does not truly perceive.
“Though seeing, they do not see;
though hearing, they do not hear or understand...
But blessed are your eyes because they see,
and your ears because they hear.”
He’s not talking about physical eyes and ears here. He’s speaking about spiritual perception — a deeper awareness that comes when we’re ready to receive truth and live it out.
It’s possible to hear the right words and still miss the meaning. It’s possible to look right at something and still not see it.
This is why Scripture continues to return to the heart of vision: Matthew 6:22
“The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eye is healthy, your whole body will be full of light.”
“I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened…” Eph 1:18
These verses show us that sight is not just a function — it’s a posture. A state of openness. A condition of the soul.
Embodied Intention: When Spirit Meets Flesh
You don’t just think peace — you become peace.
You don’t just say “I want to see” — you orient your body to see.
This is what embodiment looks like:
Breath slows as we open to truth.
Posture becomes upright or grounded.
Eyes lift, literally and symbolically (just as anablepsō describes).
Muscle tension eases when our intention is clear and safe.
When we are spiritually aligned, our physical body follows — and vice versa.
That’s the beauty of how God designed us. We are not disjointed beings; our spirit, mind, and body are deeply connected.
To “see” — biblically, spiritually, and physically — is to:
Be open
Be aligned with truth
Be present
Be rooted in love, not fear
Light in the body shows up as:
A calm face
Open hands
A deep breath
Clarity of mind
A receptive posture
An increased sense of aliveness and peace
When we embody what we ask for, we don’t just posture ourselves to receive — we become someone who is already living in the light of that answered prayer.
So, the next time you pray, reflect, or desire change, ask yourself:
Am I just asking… or am I ready to receive?
Let your intention guide you.
Let your posture reflect your faith.
And let your faith be seen — in your body, your breath, and your being.
If this speaks to you, I invite you to read our blog on Broadcasting Spiritual Intentions: The Science and Spirit of Prayer and explore the Embrace His Love package a gentle, Christ-centered path to reconnecting with your body, your spirit, and His truth. Want to learn more? Book a free discovery call today.
