July 8
Mark 9:14-29
What a powerful closing remark! “This kind can be cast out only by prayer.” (vs. 29 NLT) Sometimes prayer is the only thing that can save us. We have learned a lot about healing so far in this study. We have learned that Jesus is capable and willing to heal us. Today we learn that “Everything is possible for him who believes.” (vs. 23b NIV) This doesn’t mean that if we believe then all our prayers will be answered. We do need to pray within God’s will. “This is the confidence we have in approaching God; that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us.” (1 John 5:14 NIV) And we have to have the right objective. “When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.” (James 4:3 NIV) We also have to pray with a humble heart, and be persistent. Just because we believe doesn’t mean we will get everything that we want. But, through prayer, God can do ANYTHING! Don’t stop believing. God is bigger than any medicine, any treatment, or any doctor!
Principle: Sometimes God heals only through prayer and faith.
Application:
1. Do I bring impossibilities of my life to Jesus believing He has power over them?
2. Is my witness or usefulness to God hindered by a pitiful prayer life?
3. What time each day will I set aside for prayer?
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I can relate to the father's response to Jesus when he says "I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!" In the same sentence he says he believes... but he has a hard time believing. I too believe but it seems there is always some degree of doubt clouding the whole thing. Am I asking for the wrong thing or asking for the wrong reasons? Why would God answer my prayer? Can He really do what I am asking? etc. It's like I have a built-in "faith governor" -- like the governor on a gas engine that limits its speed. So please God, I believe; help me overcome my unbelief.
ReplyDeleteThis is the second time in the past 24 hours that I have been challenged about my motive for praying. Is it so that I reap the benefits of someone else's changed life? Ouch! My motive needs to be solely for the good of the one for whom I am praying.
ReplyDeleteI like what Bob said. Faith isn't "on" or "off." It's like a sliding scale. Eventually all of us come to our point of unbelief. No matter how much faith we have, our Father keeps stretching us. I can't imagine any of us arriving at a point where we don't need to pray, "help my unbelief."
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