When you check your faith levels, is God having to put up with you? Or can He bless you right away? Let’s talk about My Conversation with God today!

This morning, I heard the Holy Spirit say: You can’t, but I can! 

He also said: There is nothing too hard for Me, so as you lean into ME for it, know that even the thing that seems impossible, IS POSSIBLE WITH ME!

I immediately went seeking the scripture that talks about all things are possible to those of us who believe. I read the story in the CEV translation and it hit different this morning. 

Sometimes we are praying and still trying to do “the thing” we are praying about ON OUR OWN. When it doesn’t happen how we think it will happen, we come to God asking why. 

I also randomly flipped to Matthew 15:28 in my Bible this morning!! 

Then Jesus replied to her, “Woman your faith is great. Let it be done for you as you want.” And from that moment her daughter was healed. Matthew 15:28 CSB

That scripture is about a mother and a daughter. Now check out the story in Mark about a father and his son. Notice how Jesus answers here. 

It’s all about our faith! 

—————

17 Someone from the crowd answered, “Teacher, I brought my son to you. A demon keeps him from talking. 18 Whenever the demon attacks my son, it throws him to the ground and makes him foam at the mouth and grit his teeth in pain. Then he becomes stiff. I asked your disciples to force out the demon, but they couldn’t do it.”

19 Jesus said, “You people don’t have any faith! How much longer must I be with you? Why do I have to put up with you? Bring the boy to me.”

20 They brought the boy, and as soon as the demon saw Jesus, it made the boy shake all over. He fell down and began rolling on the ground and foaming at the mouth.

21 Jesus asked the boy’s father, “How long has he been like this?”

The man answered, “Ever since he was a child. 22 The demon has often tried to kill him by throwing him into a fire or into water. Please have pity and help us if you can!”

23 Jesus replied, “Why do you say ‘if you can’? Anything is possible for someone who has faith!”

24 Right away the boy’s father shouted, “I do have faith! Please help me to have even more.”

25 When Jesus saw that a crowd was gathering fast, he spoke sternly to the evil spirit that had kept the boy from speaking or hearing. He said, “I order you to come out of the boy! Don’t ever bother him again.”

26 The spirit screamed and made the boy shake all over. Then it went out of him. The boy looked dead, and almost everyone said he was. 27 But Jesus took hold of his hand and helped him stand up.

28 After Jesus and the disciples had gone back home and were alone, they asked him, “Why couldn’t we force out that demon?”

29 Jesus answered, “Only prayer can force out that kind of demon.”

— ‭‭Mark‬ ‭9:17-29‬ ‭CEV‬‬

Other translations say only prayer and fasting can force out that kind of demon.

Did you notice the differences in the two stories? With the woman (the mother) who had GREAT FAITH, it was done for her as she wanted it…almost immediately or within the hour!! Let’s just take a praise pause right there because last night when I was praying, I got excited on the FRONT END about things that I have been praying for happening IMMEDIATELY! But they can only happen so quick if my faith is great.

The Bible says in Romans 10:17 that faith comes by hearing, and hearing the word of God. But I love how the CEV translation says it (and shout out to the CEV, the Contemporary English Version because it’s really putting in work today here at OABG). The CEV says Romans 10:17 like this: No one can have faith without hearing the message about Christ.

So that means we gots to be listening to message about Christ AT ALL TIMES, so that our faith can continue to get greater and greater and greater. You wanna see your prayers get answers immediately, check your faith. And check this out too…your faith doesn’t have to be but the size of a mustard seed to move a mountain. Wait what’s that now? I thought you said my faith had to be the size of a mountain to move a mole hill. Nah, that is NOT what I said. Let’s look at what Jesus said.

Jesus replied: It is because you don’t have enough faith! But I can promise you this. If you had faith no larger than a mustard seed, you could tell this mountain to move from here to there. And it would. Everything would be possible for you.

— Matthew 17:20 CEV

And y’all, this scripture is the exact same story about the boy with the demon, except it’s told from the perspective of Matthew instead of Mark. Bottom line: It’s all about our faith!

We have to do our part like the woman! Faith without works is dead. Go check out James 2:21-26 to read more about faith and works.

Again, it’s about our faith! So this is a faith check. Are you like the mother who had great faith or are you like the father who asked Jesus to help him have even more faith? Jesus answered them both favorably, but I want to be like the mom who He answered IMMEDIATELY!

What about you?

Is Jesus having to put up with you? LOL! It’s okay, He still wants you to “bring your requests to him,” regardless!

SALVATION PRAYER

If you don’t know Jesus as your personal Lord and Savior and you’re not a believer, but you have a desire to be, all you have to do is openly confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead (Romans 10:9). When you pray that prayer, you are saved. Get connected with a good, bible-based church in your community, stay connected to other believers, and start having daily conversations through prayer with God every single day. Welcome to your new life with Jesus Christ!!!

ASSIGNMENTS

1. What did Holy Spirit say to you in your conversation with Him this morning?

2. Who do you identify most with? The woman of great faith or the man asking for more faith? Jesus answered them both by the way.

3. Record yourself reading the Word of God on video or audio and watch how God will use your own voice to give you revelation and build your faith (keeping this assignment on here for a while).

4. Struggling with Consistency? I want to help you! Leave me a message! Text 601-299-4398!

5. Share this blog post/podcast with someone who needs encouraging. Become a subscriber and get the blog and podcast in your inbox daily!