Collegiate Day of Prayer Global: 40-Day Prayer Guideনমুনা

Day 3: Moving from “Anything” to “Everything”

By Jon Tyson (Jon moved to the United States from Adelaide, Australia, and now serves as lead pastor of Church of the City New York.)

“‘If you can’?” said Jesus. “Everything is possible for the one who believes.”

— Mark 9:23

A desperate father brings his demonically tormented son to Jesus. The demonic spirit throws the boy into convulsions—into fire and water—in an attempt to destroy him. We can hear the anguish in the father’s voice as he pleads, “But if you can do anything, take pity on us and help us” (Mark 9:22). He has tried everything, exhausted every resource, and now stands at the edge of hope, daring to ask for anything that might offer relief. Jesus responds with a simple yet profound correction: “Everything is possible for one who believes.”

This exchange marks a pivotal shift—from “anything” to “everything.” The father’s initial plea, “if you can do anything,” reflects a limited view of who Jesus is and what He can do. Perhaps the father hoped Jesus would offer a small measure of relief, just enough to ease his son’s suffering. But Jesus redirects the father’s attention, encouraging him to believe not in “anything” Jesus might do, but in “everything” He can do.

Our spiritual lives can mirror this story. We approach Jesus with partial faith, asking Him to do anything that might help us get by—a bit of peace in a difficult moment, some encouragement when we’re weary, or just enough provision to make ends meet. These prayers aren’t wrong, but they reveal the limits we sometimes place on our faith. We believe Jesus can help, but do we truly believe He has the power to transform?

Jesus calls us to expand our vision of Him. He doesn’t just want us to seek Him for small, isolated miracles; He wants us to believe in His limitless power, to embrace the truth that “everything is possible” through faith. This means shifting from a mindset that sees Jesus as a last resort to one that recognizes Him as the source of all transformation and restoration.

This shift requires us to let go of our limited perspective, which often restricts what we think God can or will do in our lives. The father in Mark 9 started with doubts, but he chose to move forward with a mustard seed of faith, responding, “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!” It was enough for Jesus, who cast out the demon and healed the boy completely. The father’s limited view of “anything” was transformed into an encounter with the “everything” power of Jesus.

Let’s allow Jesus to challenge our limited view, to stretch our faith beyond what we can control or predict, and to embrace the full extent of His power. When we truly see Jesus for who He is—limitless, compassionate, and faithful—we can move from a life of asking for scraps of help to one of believing in His abundant ability to transform everything.

PRAYER POINTS:

• Ask Jesus to help you to overcome your unbelief.
• Pray that Jesus will open your eyes to see Him as He truly is.
• Declare to the Lord: “I don’t want to settle for anything; I want to believe in Your everything.”