Blogging Through the Gospels: Mark 9

The reading for Saturday is Mark 9.

When it is time to read, please start first by praying and thanking God for His many blessings. Be specific.

Record your thank you’s on paper or on the computer.

Next present your requests to Him. Ask Him for whatever you want and need. As you do, record your requests and questions on paper or on the computer.

Third, ask Him to guide you in your reading, so that you will hear his message for you today.

After you read, record your SOAP observations and then listen for five minutes. (Yes, I upped it by two minutes this time. I think you’re ready to listen a bit longer.) Set a timer and just  listen to what he might be sharing. Don’t ask. Don’t thank. Just listen. (You can pray more after you listen, if you like.)

Today we have another guest SOAP’er. Meredith has been reading and SOAPing right alongside us. I’m thankful to publish her thoughts today:

Forgive my Unbelief

Scripture: Mark 9 :21 – 24

21 Jesus asked the boy’s father, “How long has he been like this?” “From childhood,” he answered. 22 “It has often thrown him into fire or water to kill him. But if you can do anything, take pity on us and help us.” 23 “‘If you can’?” said Jesus. “Everything is possible for one who believes.” 24 Immediately the boy’s father exclaimed, “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!”

Observation:

This poor man has watched his son be possessed by a demon, or “impure spirit,” as the NIV calls it, since his childhood.  I imagine, like any parent desperate to help a hurting child, that he tried many different avenues for help.  When he had heard about Jesus, and that the men who were his disciples, performing miracles, and healing people day after day, I wonder if he was afraid to hope, but even more afraid not to try?

When the disciples were unable to cast out the spirit, the poor man must have seen the final possibility and hope of a cure slipping away.

In humility, and possibly desperation, he asks, “if you can do anything, please take pity on us and help us.”

I imagine at Jesus’ next words, the man’s posture completely changing, and hope coming back with full force.

“I do believe!  Help me overcome my unbelief!”

Application:

My God wants me to trust Him with everything, and FOR everything.

It’s not: “Lord, if you can provide-”

or

“Lord, if you could help me-”

I need to believe Him with absolute confidence and certainty that He loves me intimately, carefully and watchfully– even though He is the God of this universe of billions of people.  I don’t need to understand how He can be all things to all people, I just need to actively make Him my ALL in ALL.

As a woman in a very self-sufficient day and age, I learned quickly to solve my own problems.  I need to remember that in every area that I have completely trusted my God, He has never failed me.  But there are some areas that are quite a bit more scary to let go of…. especially in those last few days before the next paycheck.  Today my God is telling me:

“If I can provide?”

So I surrender.

I do believe.

Forgive my unbelief.

Prayer:

My Gracious God,

You are so patient with me.

I know that I am going to look back and feel so foolish for the little pockets of fear and worry that I have clung to for so long.  I know in my head that you love me more than I could imagine.  Help me to feel it in my heart, and let it seep into every corner or my mind, and into every pocket of fear and worry that I hold.  Help me to let go.

I do believe.

Forgive my unbelief.

Amen.

When not snuggling or playing with her two sons, ages 4 and 1, Meredith is teaching instrumental music in a small community in Maine.  She and her husband Randy have recently been called by the Lord to plant a church in the same community, and are in the process of moving back to the area.  Translation:  They have been having a crash course in trusting the Lord in ALL THINGS.  :)

What about you? What did you see and hear in your reading of Mark 9? Is it difficult for you to fully believe, too? I know I struggle with this.

Feel free to leave your thoughts, or a link to post with your thoughts, in the comments. If you do link a post, please include a link in your own post back to this post so your readers can see what others had to say, as well, and potentially join us.

Didn’t start reading or Blogging Through  the Gospels with us? That’s okay, join in anytime. Each Sunday evening I post the reading schedule for the week ahead and each evening I post the next day’s reading assignment and devotional. Feel free to jump in where we are anytime and blog or journal along using the SOAP format. Feel free to share your thoughts on Twitter using the #Gospels hashtag, too.

If you would be interested in sharing your own SOAP observations on MomsToolbox as a guest SOAP’er, please send me an email using the contact button on the top right. I’ll be in touch soon to discuss the details.