Mark 9:24b - Faith Comes Alive (some additional thoughts).

Mark 9:24b - Faith Comes Alive  (some additional thoughts).

Mark 9:24b (KJV)  Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief. 

Victory Out Of Defeat

The nine disciples who were left behind had neglected their 
spiritual disciplines and lost their power (v. 29; 8:7). When you find 
yourself defeated, turn to Him for victory and discover where you went 
wrong. [Chapter by Chapter Bible Commentary by Warren Wiersbe] 

No In-Between
  He wanted to believe - really, he did. After seeing his son 
suffer terribly, all this desperate father wanted was for his boy to be 
healed. Yet, so many other things had failed - even Jesus' own disciples 
could not rid his son of the demon that tormented him so cruelly. 
Could Jesus really heal the boy? Or would he be disappointed again? 
  The father pleaded with Jesus, voicing the only hope he had 
left, "If You can do anything, have compassion on us and help us" 
(Mark 9:22). 
  Have you been there? You see no possible way out of your 
situation. You've tried everything, but it was all in vain. The issue 
continues to eat away at you, and you know that if you don't get help 
soon, it will destroy you. Your only hope is that Jesus will help you. 
However, after so many things have failed, you have only a half-hearted 
faith that Jesus can really do anything for you. 
  Like the father of Mark 9, you are trapped between belief and 
unbelief. Though you believe in Jesus for your salvation, and you know 
that the Miracles He did in the New Testarnent are real - it's a 
different story trusting Him to deal with your problem. 
  First, you may be questioning whether He will help you because 
you doubt you are worth helping. This is especially true when your 
situation is due to your own mistakes. However, understand that Christ's 
love for you is unconditional and He wants to help you. Yet, He also 
calls you to repent of your sins and obey Him. Therefore, in order to 
receive Christ's aid, confess your sins to Him and begin obeying Him 
immediately. Second, you may be wondering if Jesus is able to deal with your 
modern-day problem. Most assuredly, the God who created the universe can 
deal with any situation that arises in it. Jesus assures you, "If you 
can believe, all things are possible to him who believes" (Mark 
9:23). God can do it. Can you believe it? 
  Friend, you may have to pray like that father did, "Lord, I 
believe; help my unbelief!" (Mark 9:24). However, as He teaches you, be 
deliberate about relinquishing your doubts. Your willingness to trust Him 
is key. Therefore, have faith that He will do the impossible in 
your situation, and truly believe. [Life Principles SB By Charles 
Stanley re Mark 9:17-29] 

Dealing With Our Doubts
The desperate father had already asked Jesus' disciples to cast 
the evil, destructive spirit out of his son, but they had failed. It 
seems the father wasn't the only one in the story struggling with 
doubt! The disciples, the Pharisees, and the crowd were filled with 
doubt and unbelief. Since the disciples lacked the faith to heal the 
boy, the father turned to Jesus, who responded in compassion and 
inquired not only into the boy's condition but also into the condition of 
the father's heart. We need not be afraid to follow this humble 
man's model and be honest with God about our doubts. But at the same 
time we can pray as he did, asking Jesus to strengthen our faith and 
help us when we struggle to believe. Then we will see, as the boy's 
father in Mark's account saw, that with the dynamic combination of 
belief and prayer, anything is possible. [Praying Through The Bible By 
Fuller re Mark 9:22-24] 

LORD, you know my deepest thoughts, all the places within my 
heart. When my faith is weak or I struggle with doubts about your care 
for me, enable me to turn to you and be honest about it. I believe 
in your power to accomplish anything, but grant me greater trust 
and faith in you. [Praying Through The Bible By Fuller re Mark 
9:22-24] 

The Lord does not demand that we have mountains of faith before 
He acts on our behalf; a little mustard seed of genuine faith is 
all He requires. Then He steps in and supplies what we lack. [Life 
Principles SB By Charles Stanley re Mark 9:24] 

Praying but Not Believing
  You can say prayers in your mind but doubt in your heart. At 
times God will answer such prayers as He did when Peter was in prison, 
scheduled for execution. The believers in Jerusalem were powerless to free 
him, so they prayed. When God released Peter, their reaction revealed 
the doubt in their hearts. They argued that Peter could not possibly 
be free, even as he stood outside knocking on the door! 
  Is it possible to be a "person of prayer" and yet not have 
faith? Is it possible to fool yourself into believing that because you 
ask God for help, you have faith in His ability to meet your needs? 
Is your faith so weak that you are surprised when God answers your 
prayer? As a child of God, you ought to expect God to answer your 
prayers. Do you ask God to do something without adjusting your life to 
what you are praying? If you are praying for revival, how are you 
preparing for its coming? If you are praying for forgiveness, are you 
still living with guilt? If you have asked God to provide for your 
needs, do you remain worried and anxious? 
  Ask God to increase your faith and then begin living a life 
that reflects absolute trust in Him. [Experiencing God Day by Day by 
Henry and Richard Blackaby re Act12:14-15] 

Every step toward Christ kills a doubt. Every thought, word, and 
deed for Him carries you away from discouragement. Theodore Ledyard 
Cuyler (1822-1909)