40 Days of Prayer: Praying for Deliverance, Week 2, Day 7

Welcome to Week 2, DAY 7

PRAYING FOR DELIVERANCE MARK 9:14–29
Have you ever found yourself in a situation where you felt powerless to make something happen yet were unsure of the reason why? Today, in our passage of Scripture, we find the disciples confused. They had been following Jesus for some time and had seen God use them to set people free. Yet in today’s story, they were powerless to caste out demons. Once Jesus set the boy free, the disciples privately asked Jesus why they were powerless. He tells them, “This kind can come out only by prayer” (Mark 9:29).
Jesus is making a connection between our spiritual authority and prayer. He is telling His disciples that a consistent life of prayer is necessary. Did you notice that Jesus didn’t stop and pray before He cast out the demon? But He did pray consistently; His life was marked by prayer. Over and over in Scripture we read of Jesus going away to pray. The prayer that Jesus is talking about is not when you find yourself in a position of need but before you have the need. It’s a prayer that builds your faith muscles and produces greater intimacy with Jesus.
Remember that our positional authority comes from our position as children of God who are seated with Christ in the heavenly realm, but our practical authority comes through prayer. When we fast and pray, our dependence transfers from one of depending on our own abilities to depending on the all-sustaining power and presence of Jesus.

REFLECTION PRAYER
Jesus, we come to You desperate to know You and to become more like You. Would You teach us how to live a life of consistent prayer? May we be known as people who regularly get away to be with our Father, so much so that we carry the aroma of Christ. And when people see us, let them see You. Help us to carry Your presence well as we walk with You through our daily lives, loving and serving those You put before us. In Jesus’ name, amen.