A Blessing. [Psalm 23]

One of the most popular passages of scripture is Psalm 23, written by a shepherd boy , who became king, indeed the greatest of all the kings of Israel .This Psalm has blessed millions of people, it is wonderful to think how God can use us to be a blessing to others,through our words, and through our lives .We may not be a David but God can use us to be a blessing to those we come in contact with today, our lives can count for Jesus, believe it,here are the words of a chorus we used to sing, make it your prayer today,[ Father,make me a channel of blessing today, make me a channel of blessing I pray, my service blessing, my life possessing, make me a channel of blessing today. in the name of Jesus I pray this ,Amen.]

Hurting. [Jeremiah 17v14]

There are many things that can hurt us, mybe you have been hurt recently, I know a person who will not travel by bus, because they were in an accident on a bus. there are different types of hurts, phyisical,mental, and spiritual, I wonder what you think are the hardest hurts to get over?,I would think, mental and spiritual. What do you do when you are hurting?, when one was a child, and fell over, you would go to your mother , to kiss it better, and for comfort , but sometimes we carry our hurts all our lives, we hold on to them, nursing our grievances, we may not realize that they have affected us, and have shaped our personalities. I am sure it is time to pray about those hurts ,to pray honestly,and humbly, to pray as you have never prayed before. [Father in my of journey of life ,I have hurt others, forgive me, I have also been hurt , heal me, in Jesus name I pray this, Amen.]

Only Believe. [Hebrews 11v 1-7]

Our last look at Mark 9v14-29 ,we noted yesterday how the father came to Jesus in desperation, for his demon possessed son , he is desperate, he speaks to Jesus, help us if you can. observe Jesus reply, What do you mean, if I can? the fact of the matter is, He can, let me ask the question, do you believe He can? if you were that father would you be saying,help us if you can. Jesus folows up with a challenge, Anything is possible if a person believes, there is an old hymn which goes ,Only believe, all things are possible only believe,the father hearing those words cries out, I do believe, but help me overcome my unbelief, and Jesus did, and He healed the boy. [Father I am so much like this man a mixture of faith and unbelief,in thy mercy forgive, and perfect that area of my life , I ask this in Jesus name, Amen.]

Everybody is a Critic, [Matthew 7v1-5 ]

Another look at Mark 9v14-29. in his conversation with Jesus the father says, Have mercy on us and help us , if you can, it did seem to that man that even Jesus may not be able to do anything to help. This problem had been going on for years ,we can assume that he had prayed and prayed, the result no change,this was his mountain, so he comes to Jesus barely hoping,would you and I be any different? let us not be critical of others,consider, we have not walked in their shoes. if we had we would be more understanding, and less judgmental. [Father help me not to judge others, help me to refrain from being critical, help me to have your compassion and love, in the name of Jesus I pray this, Amen.]

A Fathers Prayer. [Luke 15v11-31]

We continue to look at Mark9 v14-29 the story of the demon possessed boy,and the desperate father , a thought comes to me, the boy needed his father to intercede for him, it did not appear that he could do this himself. This boy was demon possessed one cannot begin to imagine, how serious this condition is, how controlling the demons were, but the father who loved his son felt dearly for him ,it must have been awful in the extreme for this family, so the father came to Jesus. Let me say there are many sons and daughters, who for what ever reason are unable to pray for themselves, they need the prayers of Godly parents, and the good news Jesus answered that fathers prayer.[ Father in the name of Jesus , remember our children, Amen.]

Standing on your own feet.. [ John 21v20-23 ]

Following on with Mark 9v14-29, were we have the man with a son possessed with a demon,the disciples were unable to cast it out of the boy, so the man goes to Jesus. Many people still go to the disciples of Jesus , think how many people look to the preacher, come to the front to be prayed for, there is nothing wrong with this, but mybe the Lord wants us to just simply come to Him, so many people ride on the back of others faith, instead of developing their own faith walk, why ?, there may be many reasons, whatever the reason, the challenge for us all ,is to learn to walk on our own, in our faith walk . [Father I thank you for the example of godly people, but I know you want me to begin to be a Christian who developes my own personal relationship with you, help me to do this , I ask this in Jesus name.]

The Enemy. [ James 4 v7 ]

In Mark 9v14-29. we read how the disciples failed for lack of prayer,v29. the reading is about a father with a son, who was possessed by a demon, this demon continually tried to destroy the young man, let us remember that the devil and his demons have only one aim , to destroy humanity, if you are not a Christian you are in great danger, if you are a Christian, be on your guard , you have a very dangerous enemy, who will do his best to draw you away from your Lord. [Father I thank you that Jesus defeated Satan on the cross, yet I know he is not destroyed, but is still very active, help me today to resist him in your power, help me not to be taken in by his lies, in Jesus name I ask this, Amen.