Mark 9:23-24 NLT
23 “What do you mean, ‘If I can’?” Jesus asked. “Anything is possible if a person believes.”
24 The father instantly cried out, “I do believe, but help me overcome my unbelief!”
To often I found myself at the point where faith and belief hit the road and fall short. I find that like the people in this passage I look at the things around me, the situations and circumstances and let them and my understanding rule my faith. I believe in God and Jesus but find my lack of belief shown to me in how I respond to the things I find needing God to do a miracle.
I believe that God created the universe and everything in it with out a doubt. I have seen God's provision in my life and the lives of others. I have heard of great miracles that have been done in people's lives outside of the bible and biblical times. But like the man in the story I find myself in a struggle of unbelief.
For a long time I thought this unbelief was due to not having faith. That somewhere along the journey of life I had lost the "little pouch of" faith God had given me. But recently I heard a sermon that talked about the fact that we all have faith. The issue is not that it is absent but that it is too small.
So I find myself standing with the man saying I have faith but help my faith. I believe but help me believe. I have hopes and dreams but help me hope and dream.
Lord,
Please help my unbelief. Help me to see you as the God who can and will. Grow my faith to the size of a mustard seed.
I have big dreams that only you can make happen. I want the to come true but until I believe that not only are you capable of accomplishing my dream. You can and will do it through me. That is why you have given it to me as a gift as something to hope for.
I am saying I believe but please help my belief grow bigger and stronger.
Amen
Saturday, March 3, 2012
Wednesday, February 29, 2012
The Process Miracle
I am really intrigued that in this miracle(Mark 8:23-35) there wasn't a miraculous healing instantly. Jesus first spits in the man's eyes and then ask if he can see. The man replies yes but i don't see fully. So Jesus covers his eyes again and then the man can see.
Why? Why did Jesus do it this way? Was this blindness more powerful? Was there more than one illness that was effecting the man's ability to see? There are a lot of questions I could ask about the miracle and the blind man or even Jesus. How many of those questions are a distraction from the miracle? How many of those questions are just me trying to figure out God or come up with a formula I can use?
We have many different ways documented for us of how Jesus accomplished healing miracles. He spit in people's eyes, made mud from his spit, had people bath in water, used his words and even just had people touch him. Again I could get caught up in the questions of why are there so many different ways and processes he chose. Let's not do that. Let us see that if Jesus used different ways and sometimes the process was not an instant touch. Then let us take hope that those areas where we need God's touch if he be healing, deliverance or freedom that there is hope even if it doesn't happen like an instantaneous miracle.
I know that when I read this passage today and meditated on it, it gave me hope. Hope that even when things don't appear perfect, Jesus may just be getting to put his hands over my eyes a second time and the miracle is coming.
Why? Why did Jesus do it this way? Was this blindness more powerful? Was there more than one illness that was effecting the man's ability to see? There are a lot of questions I could ask about the miracle and the blind man or even Jesus. How many of those questions are a distraction from the miracle? How many of those questions are just me trying to figure out God or come up with a formula I can use?
We have many different ways documented for us of how Jesus accomplished healing miracles. He spit in people's eyes, made mud from his spit, had people bath in water, used his words and even just had people touch him. Again I could get caught up in the questions of why are there so many different ways and processes he chose. Let's not do that. Let us see that if Jesus used different ways and sometimes the process was not an instant touch. Then let us take hope that those areas where we need God's touch if he be healing, deliverance or freedom that there is hope even if it doesn't happen like an instantaneous miracle.
I know that when I read this passage today and meditated on it, it gave me hope. Hope that even when things don't appear perfect, Jesus may just be getting to put his hands over my eyes a second time and the miracle is coming.
Friday, February 24, 2012
The Lord Is
Numbers 14:18 NLT
‘The LORD is slow to anger and filled with unfailing love, forgiving every kind of sin and rebellion. But he does not excuse the guilty. He lays the sins of the parents upon their children; the entire family is affected—even children in the third and fourth generations.’ (Numbers 14:18 NLT)
When it comes to the truth of God's character there are some I am very thankful he has chosen to have. Numbers 14:18 starts with a list of attributes I and all of us should be thankful for.
Look at how many times the Israelites sin against god in just chapters 14-15. God is ready to destroy them each time. But grace is extended but at the same time punishment is given.
How many times have I walked in disobedience, grumbling, and out right rebellion? Thank God he hasn't nuked me yet. How many times have I let my fear (legitimate and illegitimate) hold me back or stop me from following God's leading? How many times have I allowed the circumstances of life and other people to influence my choices and the way I live my life? The number of times only God can keep track of.
I am thankful for the character of his love and forgiveness. I am thankful that I still am breathing and have the opportunity change my rebellion, grumbling, choices in life. That is what I am standing on. Not perfection but on the ability and opportunity to be better than I was yesterday. Thank God for another day, another chance and the possibility for success despite the past mistakes, choices and failures.
‘The LORD is slow to anger and filled with unfailing love, forgiving every kind of sin and rebellion. But he does not excuse the guilty. He lays the sins of the parents upon their children; the entire family is affected—even children in the third and fourth generations.’ (Numbers 14:18 NLT)
When it comes to the truth of God's character there are some I am very thankful he has chosen to have. Numbers 14:18 starts with a list of attributes I and all of us should be thankful for.
Look at how many times the Israelites sin against god in just chapters 14-15. God is ready to destroy them each time. But grace is extended but at the same time punishment is given.
How many times have I walked in disobedience, grumbling, and out right rebellion? Thank God he hasn't nuked me yet. How many times have I let my fear (legitimate and illegitimate) hold me back or stop me from following God's leading? How many times have I allowed the circumstances of life and other people to influence my choices and the way I live my life? The number of times only God can keep track of.
I am thankful for the character of his love and forgiveness. I am thankful that I still am breathing and have the opportunity change my rebellion, grumbling, choices in life. That is what I am standing on. Not perfection but on the ability and opportunity to be better than I was yesterday. Thank God for another day, another chance and the possibility for success despite the past mistakes, choices and failures.
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