A faith pick-me-up

Mark 9:23-24

Out of the crowd, one man answered Him, “Teacher, I brought my son to You. He has a spirit that makes him unable to speak. Wherever it seizes him, it throws him down, and he foams at the mouth, grinds his teeth, and becomes rigid. So I asked Your disciples to drive it out, but they couldn’t.”
He replied to them, “You unbelieving generation! How long will I be with you? How long must I put up with you? Bring him to Me.” So they brought him to Him. When the spirit saw Him, it immediately convulsed the boy. He fell to the ground and rolled around, foaming at the mouth. “How long has this been happening to him? ” Jesus asked his father.
“From childhood,” he said. “And many times it has thrown him into fire or water to destroy him. But if You can do anything, have compassion on us and help us.”
Then Jesus said to him, “ ‘If You can? ’ Everything is possible to the one who believes.”
Immediately the father of the boy cried out, “I do believe! Help my unbelief.”

Jesus has the power and the faith to drive demons out of anyone but it requires the faith also on the part of those receiving the miracle (Mk 6:5). This man obviously has some faith or he would not have brought his son to the disciples; however, his faith wasn't quite strong enough so Jesus called forth stronger faith by questioning the man. The man then asked Jesus to dig deeper into him so that his faith would be strengthened. Jesus did so and then healed the boy.

Often times I ask for things and then wonder why they don't happen as I prayed. It is obviously not a lack of power on GOD's part so my attention should be turned to me. I may know in my head and heart that GOD has the strength and power to do anything but do I have sufficient faith? I should be asking GOD on a regular basis to strengthen my faith. I need to ask Him to dig deep into me so He can call forth more faith. Now faith is a gift of the Spirit (1 Cor 12:4-11). Paul says that while these gifts are given out as Holy Spirit sees fit we are to eagerly desire these gifts as well (1 Cor 14:1). Therefore I must eagerly desire the gift of faith. Holy Spirit will then answer my prayer and grant me more faith as He sees fit.

LORD GOD of glory I praise You. There is none so great and awesome as You. Please forgive me when I blame You for things are clearly my fault. Please have mercy on me and grant me a stronger gift of faith. I'd love to have faith even bigger than a mustard seed. I recognize though that I can't do this without You so I surrender to You and say "have Your way with me that You may be most glorified in my life." Please take my life and let it be always only all for You and Your will. All glory be Yours forever in Jesus' name - amen.

Created 5 months ago