Two posts in one day, that's a huge accomplishment for me. It must mean that I am neglecting the house, and yes that's true today. I have been doing Tupperware work, and reading the Bible. The house can wait.
So I was puzzled today as I was having my quiet time. I was reading the book of Mark. Mark 9:23 seemed to stab me in the heart. It's the story of the man with the little boy that is possessed by the demon (no Jacob is possessed, however I question Isabelle sometimes- j/k)! The father goes up to Jesus and says, "But if you can do anything, take pity on us and help us." Then verse 23 says this... "If you can?" said Jesus. "Everything is possible for him who believes."
So this is the little lightbulb that came on in my head, and please give me your knowledge of this scripture passage or your understanding of these thoughts.
Are some prayers not answered becuase we lack faith?
Do people doubt God because people always are saying things like, "It wasn't God's plan" or " God answers prayers differently than we expect" or is the reason because we don't have enough faith or belief that God CAN and WILL answer our prayers.
I look at the word everything, and think God meant it literally. I look at the word believes and wonder...do I?
Can you pray for more faith? How do you believe more, or have more faith? Do we have to see what God does and then we will believe or walk by faith? Isn't suppose to be we walk by faith and then we will see the AWESOMENESS of God?
Hey dear one,
ReplyDeleteYou are not alone in your questioning...look at the verses below even the disciples doubted that they had enough faith...and look at the father when he asked for help in his unbelief because the minute after he said I believe you are able he doubted...God loves honesty from the heart and when HIS children ask for help in having faith HE is a giver of good gifts and will not turn you away for questioning, HE will give you more faith...HE also grows us up by giving us more experiences that require faith and the only way to get through those times are to remember HIS past faithfulness in any area of your life...
Is believing/faith a requirement? I would say yes according to the faith chapter Hebrews 11 (I copied one part of it below but you should read the entire chapter). The one thing that I like to do is read the faith chapter and then go back and read the OT or NT account of these people because sometimes you'll read the original account and you'll think that person made blunders but look how precious he is remembered in the faith chapter...the difference is GRACE! In GOD's economy HIS GRACE wins everytime. The questions you ask are very vital in the growth of a believer, questions like do I really believe what I know in my head is true when it does match that is when your theology will match your reality. I encourage you if you have not done the series "Believing GOD" by Beth Moore that you do so...Elizabeth and I have that series but I also believe there is a book if you didn't want to do the study but I would urge you to do the study. That study helped me to identify areas that I knew something in my head but did not believe it in my heart to be true for me.
I would be more concerned for you if you had days that there wasn't something in HIS WORD that didn't make you ask questions about yourself..you know that's what HIS WORD is for right? 2 Tim 3:16-17
"The whole Bible was given to us by inspiration from God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives; it straightens us out and helps us do what is right. It is God's way of making us well prepared at every point, fully equipped to do good to everyone." (TLB)
Steph there are days that I am so grateful that GOD did not give me something that I asked for that would have been to my detriment but at the time I was praying for it I thought I know this is the way that is best....thankfully GOD is GOD and I am not and HE truly does know what is for our best...we don't have to understand GOD's sovereignty we just have to believe HE is in Control of all things at all times (now things are not HIS fault, HE does allow them to come to us).
For me, I do not believe that we will always have the privilage on this earth to understand why things happen and I also believe that once we're in heaven HIS presence will be what matters and we might not even be concerned about the why's then.
I apologize for such a long entry..you just hit on my passion...GOD! Love you, Michelle
Luke 17:5-10
5 One day the apostles said to the Lord, "We need more faith; tell us how to get it."
6 "If your faith were only the size of a mustard seed," Jesus answered, "it would be large enough to uproot that mulberry tree over there and send it hurtling into the sea! Your command would bring immediate results! 7 When a servant comes in from plowing or taking care of sheep, he doesn't just sit down and eat, but first prepares his master's meal and serves him his supper before he eats his own. And he is not even thanked, for he is merely doing what he is supposed to do. 10 Just so, if you merely obey me, you should not consider yourselves worthy of praise. For you have simply done your duty!"
TLB
Mark 9:24-29
24 The father at once cried out, "I do have faith, but not enough. Help me have more!"
25 Jesus noticed that the crowd was closing in on them, so he gave a command to the evil spirit. "Deaf and dumb spirit," he said, "I order you to come out of the boy and never go into him again!"
26 The spirit screamed, threw the boy into a bad fit, and came out. The boy looked like a corpse, and everyone said, "He is dead!" 27 But Jesus took the boy by the hand and helped him rise, and he stood up.
28 After Jesus had gone indoors, his disciples asked him privately, "Why couldn't we drive the spirit out?"
29 "Only prayer can drive this kind out," answered Jesus; "nothing else can."
TEV
Heb 11:6-7
6 No one can please God without faith, for whoever comes to God must have faith that God exists and rewards those who seek him.
7 It was faith that made Noah hear God's warnings about things in the future that he could not see. He obeyed God and built a boat in which he and his family were saved. As a result, the world was condemned, and Noah received from God the righteousness that comes by faith.
TEV