When You Want Stronger Faith – Pray Jesus’ Truth
What do you do when life is uncertain and you are struggling with feelings of vulnerability?
It’s interesting to be living at a time of collective uncertainty.
But the truth is … everyone experiences that vulnerable feeling from time to time.
I can’t tell you how often I’ve thought about the words spoken by the father of the “demon-possessed” boy … a desperate man who just wanted his son to be healed.
Talk about feeling vulnerable.
This father brought his desperation to the disciples but they couldn’t help. So, as Jesus came down from the Mountain of Transfiguration He was met with a group of arguers trying to figure out what to do next.
Jesus surveyed the crowd and asked a few questions, and after answering a few details about his son, the father pleads…
“Have mercy on us and help us, if you can.”
Mark 9:22
Jesus replied…
“What do you mean, ‘If I can’? Anything is possible if a person believes.”
Mark 9:23
The father’s response always grabs my attention and my heart…
“I do believe, but help me overcome my unbelief!”
Mark 9:24
Can you relate to these words, too? When you are desperate for answers and solutions? When life feels shaky?
But that’s the point. The father didn’t take his son and leave. He didn’t give up in despair. He took the faith he had and trusted Jesus.
So, that’s what I’m doing today. I’m going to Jesus and asking Him for His mercy and help. I’m honestly admitting that I feel vulnerable.
I’m praying the words of Jesus, asking Him to give me peace and hope because when I feel vulnerable, I need stronger faith. Faith that truly believes the promise that … “Anything is possible if a person believes.”
I’d love for you to pray with me…
When You Want Stronger Faith – Pray Jesus’ Truth
“I do believe, but help me overcome my unbelief!”
Mark 9
Lord, thank you for the gift of faith. I can’t imagine trying to do even a moment of my life without the hope You give.
It’s why I love this father’s hopeful prayer. Like him…
I do believe, but when I’m overwhelmed by problems and everywhere I turn people are fearful and worried … doubt creeps in and challenges me. I need Your help, Lord. Please fill me with Your Spirit, help me remember the countless ways You have been with me in the past, and flood my heart and mind with the truths of Your unfailing promises.
Jesus said, “Anyone who listens to my teaching and follows it is wise, like a person who builds a house on solid rock. Though the rain comes in torrents and the floodwaters rise and the winds beat against that house, it won’t collapse because it is built on bedrock.
Matthew 7:24–25
Lord Jesus, I want to be wise. I want to listen to and follow Your teaching. I want “solid rock” faith. Your Word tells me to “be still and know” You. (Psalm 46:10) Please fill me with a desire to spend time with You by reading and studying Your Word … by sitting with You in prayer. Please quiet my spirit and help me fix my thoughts on Your truth.
Help me “keep my eyes on” You, the author and perfecter of my faith. (Hebrews 12:2) Help me fix my “thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. And think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.” (Philippians 4:8) With Your Spirit’s help, I believe those things will help me through life’s storms.
“If you love me, obey my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Advocate, who will never leave you. He is the Holy Spirit, who leads into all truth.
John 14:15–17a
Lord, I do love You … yet, I know I fall short of perfectly obeying your commandments. Please forgive me. I’ve prayed to know Your truth. I’ve asked You to help me love You with all that I am. I’ve called out for Your help to be able to trust and obey Your perfect will.
Because I know that I am unable to do any of those things on my own. I need Your Spirit’s help. I surrender myself to You, Lord. Guide me. Fill me. Teach me Your truth. Keep me so focused on You that the world’s lies and temptations have no power over me.
Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
John 8:31–32
Lord, You are the TRUTH that sets me free.
By Your grace, I am no longer a slave to sin and I am free from the eternal consequences of my sin.
You free me from the lies I tell myself and the lies satan uses to tempt me. You make me free to live each day with hope and joy because I am forgiven and redeemed for all eternity. You give me freedom to love as I have been loved.
Lord Jesus, I don’t want to just know Your truth … I want to live Your truth. Please help me follow where You lead. Help me faithfully obey You … without doubts or questions but trusting that every Word is true. May I say like the Psalmist: “Every word of God holds true and we can trust everything He does.” (Psalm 33:4) Amen.
Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”
Matthew 28:20
Lord, I pray that You will help me be an encourager. I want everyone to know and love You. I want them to live with the freedom You give. I want them to know the blessings of loving You and obeying Your commands. I want them to experience peace, joy, patience, and hope. And most of all, I want them to enjoy the blessing of Your presence … to rest in the truth that no matter what happens in this life, they will never have to face it alone. You will be with them.
Your grace is sufficient. When I am weak, You give me the strength I need. (2 Corinthians 12:9) You guide by Your truth and help my faith to grow. Thank you! I worship and praise You and ask that by Your grace, I might live for Your glory today, tomorrow, and always. Amen.
You know, I’ve learned something important in recent months…
I’ve learned I have to be careful about what I consume—what I listen to, watch, and read. I have to think carefully about the discussions I have.
If I want to have stronger faith and know and pray Jesus’ truths … I have to focus on who He is and all He’s done.
You have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God.
Colossians 3:1–2
When I feel vulnerable and my heart cries…
“I do believe, but help me overcome my unbelief!”
The promise I have … the promise you have, is that we are not on our own when we want to have stronger faith.
When you and I want to have a rock-solid foundation built on the truths of Jesus. We have the promise that we have been hidden with Christ in God. We have been given the gift of the Holy Spirit to help us know and…
Pray Jesus’ truth.
And that’s awesome news!
Because of Jesus, you and I can surrender each day, even when that day feels vulnerable and uncertain. We can be confident that we will be given everything we need to live in faith with hope and joy.
The verse you’ve featured here, Deb, has always resonated with me. Yes, I do believe, but I need Jesus to take the hesitant part of my belief and turn it on its head. I’m depending upon Him for all of my peace and calm in the midst of this latest storm in our country. With Him, we will get through it!
Blessings!
I hope you don’t mind. I copied your prayer in my prayer and gratitude journal. It expressed exactly what i am feeling. Writing each word instead of just reading it made it more real to me. In these troubled times many of us are saying we believe but our hearts are troubled. We know god has always answered our prayers in absolutely the best ways and yet…. I so look forward you posts, they always seem to speak to my heart and help my walk with Christ grow. My God bless you and help you continue to write and may he keep you and your loved ones safe and healthy.
Your blog posts are truly a blessing to me! I thank God for you.
Thank you so much for your God given insight from His words. Always enjoy your encouraging words ❤️. Keep His words coming to us!
Thank you, Bonnie! Your encouragement is a lovely blessing. I feel so blessed that God allows me to do this. God bless you!
Thank you sooo much for your heartfelt posts. Through your posts I always hear the Lord speaking to me. I always share your posts with my family and friends.
God Bless you and may you and your family stay safe and healthy during this Pandemic!
Thank you, Jeanette! I am so blessed by your kind encouragement. May God bless you and keep you and watch over you and your family.
This prayer I prayed with my whole heart. When I was despairing and no words seemed to come out to truly express myself,my heart’s desire to pray to my Lord, your words have become my words of prayer. Praise the Lord! GOD Bless you so richly and immensely Deb???? A true woman of GOD!
Thank you, Seyievinuo. I’m so glad you visited and I am blessed by your kindness. I truly am just a woman who loves the Lord and wants to tell others about His goodness and grace. He has been so gracious to me, I just can’t keep it to myself. God bless you and give you everything you need.
Oh boy, LORD knws I needed to read n digest this daily. As u have said we as children of GOD need to b careful if the thing we read n see especially on social media n the news. As Matt. 7 24-25 says we do need the “solid rock” CHRIST JESUS in our daily lives.
I agree, Karlene. Watching our input is really important for our mental health. Holding close to the truth of God’s saving grace, mercy, and love. God bless you!