Read Mark 9:17-29...
But if You can do anything, have compassion on us and help us.” 23 Jesus said to him, “If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes.”24 Immediately the father of the child cried out and said with tears, “Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!”—Mark 9:22-24
Beloved, without faith the Bible says, it is impossible to please God. Jesus can do anything. He asks us to do one thing...believe. Why is that so difficult? I so want to be the one who keeps the faith...whose heart is steadfast and unwavering. I have often wondered how one gets to that point. Not by might, not by power but by my Spirit says the Lord. The answer is in abiding.
He answered him and said, “O faithless generation, how long shall I be with you? How long shall I bear with you? Bring him to Me.—Mark 9:19
20 So Jesus said to them, “Because of your unbelief; for assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you. 21 However, this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting.”—Matthew 17:20-21
Why did the nine disciples fail to cast out the demon? Perhaps, while Jesus was away with the other disciples on the Mount of Transfiguration they had neglected to spend time drawing near God. Perhaps they got discouraged and grieved that Jesus hadn’t brought them with Him and walked away from Him a bit in their hearts. Whatever it was, the answer is always to stay with Jesus. To abide in His love and believe His promises even and especially when it is hard. His grace is always sufficient and in our weakness, He is strong.
Oh, Father...give me a living faith...a faith that though small is growing daily by my nearness to you. May I be so filled with Your fullness that You would dominate my every thought and my every action.
Grant me, according to the riches of Your glory, to be strengthened with might through Your Spirit in my inner man, that Christ may dwell in my heart through FAITH; that I, being rooted and grounded in love, might be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and heigh of Your love which passes knowledge. Fill me with the fullness of You!
Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me.
5 “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. 6 If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned. 7 If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you[b] will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you. 8 By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples.—John 15:4-8
