God Help Me....If You Can

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Has that ever been your prayer?  


Mark 9:24
I must confess that I have prayed many prayers with this attitude.  Of this fact I am ashamed, but I do take comfort in knowing that I am not alone.  If you can relate, be encouraged.  God's Word shows us that we are not alone AND provides us with the remedy so that we may be confident in the abilities of our Heavenly Father.  Today's challenge will be to try the remedy!

We will begin today in Mark 9.  Yeshua is ministering to the crowds, and the disciples have just failed to cast out a mute spirit.  The father of the suffering boy says to Yeshua, "but if You can do anything, have compassion and help us!" (v22 TLV).  Wow!  Did you catch that?  Yeshua sure did...

"'If You can?' Yeshua said to him." (v23a)

Oops...have you ever been there?  I know I have.  I feel sorry for this dad.  He has likely struggled greatly to care for his son, and he has already experienced the failure of the disciples' attempt to cast out the mute spirit.  I can totally see why he would look to Yeshua as his last resort...please help me if you can!   

 Yeshua tells this father that "all things are possible for one who believes." (v23b)  "Immediately the boy's father cried out, 'I believe!  Help my unbelief!'" (v24).  

 This has been my prayer MANY times.  I know to pray obediently in faith, but sometimes it is just so hard to believe.  Like this father, I sometimes doubt the ability of God to intervene in the needs of this world.  Like him, I sometimes look to Yeshua as a last resort.  In truth, He should be my FIRST resort.  

 If you can relate, you're not alone.  But I also said that God's Word provides the remedy, and here it is...

 When we spend time in prayer, praising God for WHO HE IS (this is different than thanking Him for what He has done in our lives), we are left with little ability to doubt Him.  Before getting to your "laundry list" of needs, use scripture to praise God.  It will do 2 things at a minimum:  1) it will please God; and 2) it will help you comprehend the awesomeness of who it is you are praying to.  I have found that praising God is the best remedy to "doubtful prayers" in my own life.  

 So, how can we know how to praise Him for who He is?  In scripture, of course.  Here is an example of a scripture-based praise prayer:
You are the one who laid the foundations of the earth.  You set its dimensions and heard the hosts of heaven singing and shouting in joy at its creation (Job 38).  You gave the horse its strength and thought to design it with a mane (Job 39).  Indeed, I am unworthy before you (Job 40).  You measured the waters in the palm of Your hand and measured the heavens with Your span.  You do not need to consult anyone about anything, and no one instructs You.  You sit above the circle of the earth and look down to see man, as a grasshopper, with compassion.  You are the eternal God, the Creator, and You do not grow weary (Isaiah 40).  Thank you Father!

When we get through telling God who He is, we will know who He is, too.  And then, how can we doubt?  And this is my challenge to you:  begin a routine of praising God with scripture before unloading your burdens.  With complete confidence, I promise that it will make a positive impact on your belief in His ability to answer prayer...and "all things are possible for one who believes." Mark 9:23

Need a place to start collecting praise verses?  Check out the Psalms.  They are overflowing with praises for our Lord.  

PLEASE share any verses that you find to praise Him.  Believe today!  


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