Monday Morning Encouragement - August 1, 2005

Good morning!

I want to begin by asking you this question: Have you seen any miracles in your life lately? This past week I was in Buffalo, NY doing mission work with a team from our church. During the week we witnessed God doing the miraculous over and over again. The miracles ranged from physical healings to inexhaustible resources to the stirring of people’s hearts. So why did we see so many miraculous events…simple…it was the issue of belief.

I was having my personal time of devotions this last week when I came upon a verse of scripture that literally jumped from the page and held my attention captive.

Mark 6:4-6 (NLT)
Then Jesus told them, "A prophet is honored everywhere except in his own hometown and among his relatives and his own family." [5] And because of their unbelief, he couldn't do any mighty miracles among them except to place his hands on a few sick people and heal them. [6] And he was amazed at their unbelief.

Notice verse 5, Jesus was hindered by the unbelief of the people. Now go to verse 4, those who were guilty of unbelief were his own people. Sadly we being God’s people get comfortable and complacent. We talk about belief and faith, but rarely do we live by it. Let me give you an example. How many times have you prayed for someone’s healing, but not really expected to see it? How many times have you prayed for financial provisions, but then sought to make your own solutions? How many times have you prayed for someone to have a relationship with God, but not expected it? Do you see what I am getting at…we pray with unbelief in our hearts and zero faith.

This past week it was easy to pray with belief, because we were out of our element, outside of our comfort zone and only God could provide for the needs at hand.

So what do you do about unbelief? First of all ask God to remove the unbelief in your life. Look at this example from Mark 9 about a father who needed a miracle:

Mark 9:21-24 (NLT)
"How long has this been happening?" Jesus asked the boy's father.
He replied, "Since he was very small. [22] The evil spirit often makes him fall into the fire or into water, trying to kill him. Have mercy on us and help us. Do something if you can."
[23] "What do you mean, 'If I can'?" Jesus asked. "Anything is possible if a person believes."
[24] The father instantly replied, "I do believe, but help me not to doubt!"

This father was desperate for a miracle, but unbelief was a hindrance. His fervent cry was that Jesus would take away his doubt. The second thing is to pray in faith. When you pray for healing, visualize the moment of healing. When you pray for financial provision, visualize the provision. Thank God in advance for the answer to your prayers.

This week look for the miraculous around you. Ask God to remove the barriers of doubt and unbelief from your life.

Until next Monday, may God’s richest blessings be yours this week.

Carl