“But if You can do anything, take pity on us and help us.” (Mark 9:22).
Our Father, we remember Jeremiah's prayer, “Ah, Sovereign Lord, You have made the heavens and the earth by Your great power and outstretched arm. Nothing is too hard for You" (Jeremiah 32:17).
Yet, Lord, we confess that what we know in "distant" faith becomes more difficult in immediate reality. We are often like this father Mark writes about, burdened and distressed for his son, daring to "hope" for Your intervention, but struggling to believe it could happen.
Thank You for the gentle compassion demonstrated by the Lord Jesus in the middle of the struggle, even as He instructs and corrects this wavering, heavy-hearted parent (Mark 9:23). Oh Lord, how You lovingly teach us to confront our lack of faith so that we can confess our conflict to You, and cry out, "I do believe, help me overcome my unbelief!"
Thank You for taking pity on us, even when we come with faith as small as a mustard seed (Matthew 17:20). Build our faith O Lord! Teach us to know You so that we will trust You (Psalm 9:10). Conquer our unbelief so that we may pray in faith.
The apostle James reminds us that Elijah was a human being, even as we are. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years. Again he prayed, and the heavens gave rain, and the earth produced its crops... (James 5:17-18).
Teach us to pray the powerful and effective prayers of the righteous (James 5:16). Tune our hearts to Yours, so that we do not pray out of pride or presumption. Help us to listen to the guiding of Your Spirit, so that our prayers bring glory, and not dishonor to You. So that we can declare Your power with confidence and authority.
Lord, many of us are praying for rain. Teach us to hold on even when the report says, "There is nothing there" (1 Kings 18:43-44). Give us endurance, fortitude, and unflagging perseverance. Help us not to give up, but to "Go Back" as many times as it takes to see Your promised hand over the horizon (1 Kings 18:44).
Send Your rain, O Lord, on the lives of Your people. Send Your rain on the harvest fields. Send Your rain on our children, on our families, our cities, our nations.
Ah, Sovereign Lord, nothing is too difficult for You. Despite what we see around us, You are in Your heaven. Your plans and purpose are right even in a world full of so much wrong. We look for Your deliverance. Take pity on us and help us. Come in Your power and Your mercy. Help our unbelief.
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