Only By Prayer

DEVOTION

THE GOSPEL OF MARK

ONLY BY PRAYER

Mark 9:25-29

25 When Jesus saw that a crowd was running to the scene, he rebuked the evil spirit. "You deaf and mute spirit," he said, "I command you, come out of him and never enter him again."  26 The spirit shrieked, convulsed him violently and came out. The boy looked so much like a corpse that many said, "He's dead." 27 But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him to his feet, and he stood up. 28 After Jesus had gone indoors, his disciples asked him privately, "Why couldn't we drive it out?" 29 He replied, "This kind can come out only by prayer."

NIV

There is no question Jesus has the power over all things. Even though his disciples thought they had the power over this evil spirit, but found out they did not, and it took Jesus to demand it to leave, most likely that could have found that power. The story here for us is that we may try to do some things, even things spiritual without first having a conversation with God regarding what it is we are about to do. When we do engage in something, even spiritual things without consulting God, we are bound by our human strength and power. When Jesus said that this kind only came out by prayer, he was telling us that we need to pray, or talk with, our have a conversation with, our consult God first, before we attempt to do something beyond our human strength. Now it is true many of us have great talents, great abilities, and great skills and can accomplish many good things, both for mankind and for the kingdom of God, even in their human confines. But the truth is there are things none of us can do, unless we first come to God, pray, have that conversation with him, asking how we should go about doing what he has called us to do. We must have spent enough time with God, that we are filled with his power, not ours. True, Jesus is God, but he still shows us the need to spend time with the Father, he showed us the need to have a close relationship with the Father so that we are not limited to the constraints of our human abilities. It appears Jesus did not stop everything; knee down and prayer for the power to cast this demon out, and then proceed with power. He simply had a strong enough relationship with the Father that he had the power. This may be our truth. There may be times we need to act immediately, doing something far beyond our abilities, but if we have spent enough time in prayer with the Father we will know what to do, how to do it, and have the empowerment to accomplish that which God has placed before us to do. We should live our live only by prayer.