Who Do You Need to Put Out?
Tuesday, October 21
Mark 5:38-43 (NIV)
“When they came to the home of the synagogue leader, Jesus saw a commotion, with people crying and wailing loudly. He went in and said to them, “Why all this commotion and wailing? The child is not dead but asleep.” But they laughed at him. After he put them all out, he took the child’s father and mother and the disciples who were with him, and went in where the child was. He took her by the hand and said to her, “Talitha koum!” (which means “Little girl, I say to you, get up!”). Immediately the girl stood up and began to walk around (she was twelve years old). At this they were completely astonished. He gave strict orders not to let anyone know about this, and told them to give her something to eat.”
Devotion
Death and doubt often speak through human voices. These voices go beyond urging us to count the cost or balance priorities; they urge us to stop praying, stop seeking, and stop asking for the rescue that Scripture and the Holy Spirit have given us some beginning of faith for. Some of these voices even laugh and scoff at our expressions of faith and hope. “You'll always be… (stuck in something negative)...” “You'll never receive… (the Biblical promise of blessing or rescue)...” Jesus put them all out. And as believers, we can and should put these voices of death and doubt out of positions of influence and discouragement in our lives. Put them out and close the door. Block them. Cut off their access to your heart and spirit.
Once we silence the voices of death and doubt, we can fix our eyes and ears on Jesus, who longs to speak life and blessing to our families and circumstances. Mustard seed faith is sometimes astonished by Jesus' answers to prayer, but mustard seed faith has enough faith to pray and seek and knock—and then follow Jesus' instructions when our answer is received.
Today's Prayer
Dear Heavenly Father,
I confess that I often listen to voices of death and doubt over my life. I confess I have sometimes even been the voice of death and doubt in the ears of others. O Father, forgive me. What a wretched person I am! Put a guard over my mouth if I am ever tempted to speak death and doubt to myself or others. Show me who and how others may be speaking death and doubt over my life, and who I need to put out of my hearing, so that their words of death do not weaken my trust or my zeal in prayer. In the name of Jesus, I pray. Amen.
Apply It Today
In real life, there will be pressure. If you are living for Jesus, there may be even more! In every crisis, make room for Jesus. Jesus’ rebuke to the mourners in today’s passage as He moved toward the miracle was not about the dead daughter, it was about the dead faith. Jesus was there. Jesus promises that if we draw near to Him, He will draw near to us. Ask Him to be the resurrection and the life in your situation.
Resources
- Drop your prayer request today — we’d love to stand in faith with you and believe God for your miracle! Visit freechapel.org/prayer to connect with us.