SCRIPTURE: Mark 9:14-24
“Everything is possible for the one who believes.”
Compare the optimist and the pessimist, and you will this verse illustrated.
The person who allows doubts to reign in their mind and heart are easily defeated.
But the person who allows God-confidence and possibility thinking to reign seem to be undefeatable.
It’s not that they do not suffer defeats or setbacks, but they refuse to give in to them.
They see God on the throne, they see Jesus as victorious, and they see themselves as secure in them.
This is not technique for worldly success, there are no guarantees in this regard.
But as far as God-confidence, and fulfilling God’s purpose, and God doing great things in and through us, this is guaranteed, if we believe.
I like how Daniel’s three friends put it to King Nebuchadnezzar (when about to be thrown into the fire): “The God we serve is able to bring us out of it alive. He will save us from your powerful hand. But we want you to know this. Even if we knew that our God wouldn’t save us, we still wouldn’t serve your gods.” (Daniel 3:17-18)
Believing in God, that He is able, even if He does not give us what we ask for – confident in the greatness and goodness of God, no matter what happens.
People who live in this confidence will find that nothing is impossible for them, for everything they do, everything they desire, will be God-focused and God-confident, no matter what happens.
What do you sense the Lord saying to you?
PRAYER
Lord, “I do believe! Help me overcome my unbelief!”
Observations/Application
Teachers of the law were arguing with the disciples and when Jesus came on the scene, the people ran to Him. Just like the wayward son running to the father. Homecoming.
The devil had control over the man’s son and the disciples could not heal him. At times it takes extra ordinary measures to be healed and fully walk in the Light. Lack of faith and God’s grace is at work. It is only through Christ Jesus that all is a possible. God’s servants are just that – instruments of His peace and not in control. God is.
My response seems also to be like the father’s – I do believe. Help me to overcome my unbelief. Almost like a ‘doubting Thomas’ – believe is made all the stronger when we see the miracle with our own eyes. Blessed are those who believe and have not seen.
Prayer
Walk with me each day Lord. Strengthen me by Your Spirit. Trustingly I continue my journey in Your SonShine putting my hand in Yours.
O come, let us sing unto the Lord: let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation. Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving, and make a joyful noise unto him with psalms. For the Lord is a great God, and a great King above all gods. (Psalm 95: 1-3)ff
I am with the disciples on this one. I pray for healing, I pray for resolution, I pray for miracles, and maybe I don’t believe enough, even though I trust in Jesus, and I follow him. It is interesting to note that the man even brought his boy to the disciples. I thought that he was showing faith in them. And certainly the disciples were doing the same things that Jesus would do.
Was Jesus calling his disciples the unbelieving generation? After all, they attempted and failed at driving the demon out of this boy. Or was he talking to the crowd? Or the entire population of that time period?
The father’s question, and the response of Jesus is classic. “Help me if you can?” and “If I can?, Everything is possible for him who believes!
I accept so much because I don’t really believe. I pray that God will help my unbelief. I pray that I will not get discouraged when things appear to be going in the wrong direction. I pray that I can learn what “all things are possible for him who believes” can really mean in my life.