What Jesus Did! 'Honest Frustration' — Mark 9:28

Sunday, June 16, 2024

Afterward, when Jesus was alone in the house with his disciples, they asked him, "Why couldn't we cast out that evil spirit?"
— Mark 9:28 NLT

Key Thought

I do believe many of us who seek to minister in the name of Jesus need to ask this question more: "Why couldn't we do it, Lord?" More than just being honest, we need answers. While we may not get that question answered as clearly and exhaustively as we would like, with our asking for help and insight, we open the door for God to teach us. We also find our place, in humility, in the presence of the Almighty, who also happens to be our loving Abba Father.

Today's Prayer

Dear Heavenly Father, I am frustrated about some things that have not turned out as I believed they would. I trust in you. I want to serve you and bring you glory. Yet things didn't happen which I thought should have happened and people weren't touched who need to be touched. Please help me understand why. If part of the problem is me, my faith, or my character, please help me come to this understanding and work with you on strengthening my area of weakness. In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen.

Related Scripture Readings

Have thoughts on this devotional? Leave a comment

4 Related Resources by Heartlight

Only By Prayer
Devo: What Jesus Did!
"Afterward, when Jesus was alone in the house with his disciples, they asked him, "Why couldn't we cast out that evil spirit?" Jesus replied, "This....."
Prayer + Fasting Overcomes Demonic Forces
Devo: Spiritual Warfare
"When Jesus saw that the people came running together, He rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it: “Deaf and dumb spirit, I command you, come out of....."
Cruciformed #4: Only by Prayer
Article by Phil Ware
Unlike the father of the boy with the tormenting spirit, we don’t confess our unbelief and then ask for help in believing more is possible. Phil Ware continues his series of posts from the discipleship section of Mark chapters 8-10, this time focusing on the boy the disciples of Jesus could not heal.
Willing to Be Powerful
Article by Phil Ware
Dear God in heaven, we’d sure like to have a little bit of power to alter our irrelevance, lighten the burdens of others, and heal the wounds of the broken and despairing. Phil Ware writes out of the context of recent disasters and the loss of a mother and child to remind us that being a servant, offering ourselves in sacrificial love, is never a waste!

Illustration

Illustration of Mark 9:28 NLT — Afterward, when Jesus was alone in the house with his disciples, they asked him, "Why couldn't we cast out that evil spirit?"

Other Devotionals from Heartlight for Sunday, June 16, 2024

Morning & Evening
The classic twice-daily devotional from Charles H. Spurgeon.
Evening Thought: Ezekiel 36:26
"A heart of flesh is known by its tenderness concerning sin. To have indulged a foul imagination, or to have allowed a wild desire to tarry even for a...."
Spiritual Warfare
A daily devotional about God's power for our battles.
'Discerning Human Desires from Spiritual Promptings'
"Satan rose up against Israel and caused David to take a census of the people of Israel. So David said to Joab and the commanders of the army, “Take a...."
Praying with Paul
Features the apostle Paul's writings turned into daily, powerful prayers.
'Caring Hearts, Working Hands' (1 Ti. 5:1-22)
"Dear Father, Help me treat everyone in your family appropriately and with great respect: older men like fathers, older women like mothers, younger..."
Today's Verse
A daily devotional featuring a Bible verse, thought and prayer.
Romans 14:8
"If we live, we live to the Lord: and if we die, we die to the Lord. So, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord."

About This Devotional

What Jesus Did! is a series of one-year devotional guides through each gospel, using one short scripture passage each day and following the Gospel in sequential order. Each devotional consists of a scripture passage and a reflection and a prayer which open up the day's scripture and show how it challenges you to live for Jesus.

What Jesus Did! is written by Phil Ware and is available in book form.

Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2007, 2013, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

More What Jesus Did!