It's Time To PrayChikamu

DAY FIVE: The Spiritual Journey to Faith

There was a slow progression of change that took place in the father’s conversation with Jesus. At first there was only criticism toward the disciples for their lack of power; then after Jesus brings to his attention his own lack of faithfulness over the years, the father asks the divine healer if He could do anything. And then, for the first time, the father inserts the word us, recognizing that both he and his son needed God’s healing!

This change reveals three distinct revelations taking place: his own lack of power and ability to effect any spiritual change, either in the boy’s life or his own; his absolute need of compassion and grace due to his own negligence of prayer and the Word; and his request for help was the beginning of faith.

Jesus had broken up the fallow ground of this man’s heart and was now planting the seed of faith in fertile soil. Conviction of the Holy Spirit is always a win-win situation. Although it may be difficult to hear what God has to say about our heart condition, the end result always bears fruit!

When the father said to Jesus, “I believe; help my un-belief!” he acknowledged he believed what Jesus said while also seeing that his heart still held vestiges of unbelief (Mark 9:24).

I wonder, Do you believe what Jesus says but also struggle with doubt in your heart?

I want you to be encouraged by something. Once the father recognized his need for Christ and asked for help with his unbelief, that was all Jesus needed to perform a miracle of deliverance and healing for the boy. The spiritual journey was complete—not only had the father received his son back whole and delivered, but he too was free from the grip of an unbelieving and hardened heart.