Mark 9:21-23
21 So He asked his father, “How long has this been happening to him?”
And he said, “From childhood. 22 And often he has thrown him both into the fire and into the water to destroy him. But if You can do anything, have compassion on us and help us.”
23 Jesus said to him, “If[d] you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes.”
24 Immediately the father of the child cried out and said with tears, “Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!”
Though out our lives it seems our faith waxes and wanes. How does one buttress his or her faith so we are not tossed about on the ocean of life. Much like James says in his letter to the church.
James 3:3-5
3 [b]Indeed, we put bits in horses’ mouths that they may obey us, and we turn their whole body. 4 Look also at ships: although they are so large and are driven by fierce winds, they are turned by a very small rudder wherever the pilot desires. 5 Even so the tongue is a little member and boasts great things.
I believe our mouths have a lot to do with it. We are the children of God and even if we don’t know what that means all creation does.
Roman 8:22-23
For we know that the whole creation groans and labors with birth pangs together until now. Not only that, but we also who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for the adoption, the redemption of our body.
We curse ourselves with doubt and unbelief rendering us ineffective for the cause of Christ. Ever since the serpent convinced Adam and Eve to eat the apple and an ego showed up and they wondered if the measured up. Need proof?
Genesis 3:8-13
8 And they heard the [c]sound of the Lord God walking in the garden in the [d]cool of the day, and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God among the trees of the garden.
9 Then the Lord God called to Adam and said to him, “Where are you?”
10 So he said, “I heard Your voice in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; and I hid myself.”
11 And He said, “Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree of which I commanded you that you should not eat?”
12 Then the man said, “The woman whom You gave to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I ate.”
13 And the Lord God said to the woman, “What is this you have done?”
The woman said, “The serpent deceived me, and I ate.”
As a father I can say my kids have had this same conversation with me, “It wasn’t my fault I have frosting around my mouth because Jamie told me to eat the cake.” Adam and Eve questioned their worth and found themselves wanting. “Who told you that you were naked?” Adam and Eve confirmed the worst by blaming others for their actions.
The father of the boy at the beginning saw his error knowing he was like the ship being tossed about on the sea of life. Having faith then doubt, back and forth. Lord help my unbelief. How do we fix it?
Romans 8:26-27
26 Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession [g]for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. 27 Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God.
Madame Jeanee Guyon the 17th century nun offers a unique perspective on the above scripture. To summarize her from her work: “A short easy method of Prayer.” When we learn the prayer of silence and cease to pray for ourselves something wonderful happens. “God Himself in the person of the Holy Spirit prays for us. Jesus being the Word give His Words to the Holy Spirit and He petitions the Father for us.” The entirety of God us engaged on our behalf. “Why then would we ever pray for ourselves again?” Madame Guyon asks. Why indeed.
In the Old Testament times which the father of the son that threw himself into harm’s way lived in; God was externalized, he had to ask outwardly in his own words. Now Jesus has given us the Holy Spirit, why? Is it so we can learn to quit praying through our sense of not measuring up like Adam and Eve naked in the Garden of Eden? I think so, if we learn to quiet ourselves and let the Holy Spirit intercede for us, it’s right there in the book. Who is He interceding too? Only one choice, right? If we believe that He has our best interests at heart, and we follow His instructions, what happens? The Holy Spirit searches our hearts and finds what we need, He informs Jesus who is the Word of God, He gives the Holy Spirit what to pray and He intercedes for us to the Father. We literally have God Himself praying for us.
Just like Jesus told the father of the boy in Mark 9:23, “If you can believe, all things are possible for those that believe.” So, by saying nothing and believing God rushes in to fill the void with Himself. I resign to practicing the prayer of silence. Join me?
Behold I Saw 