LIFE SCRIPTS

When they came to the other disciples, they saw a large crowd around them and the teachers of the law arguing with them. As soon as all the people saw Jesus, they were overwhelmed with wonder and ran to greet him. “What are you arguing with them about?” he asked. A man in the crowd answered, “Teacher, I brought you my son, who is possessed by a spirit that has robbed him of speech. Whenever it seizes him, it throws him to the ground. He foams at the mouth, gnashes his teeth and becomes rigid. I asked your disciples to drive out the spirit, but they could not.” “You unbelieving generation,” Jesus replied, “how long shall I stay with you? How long shall I put up with you? Bring the boy to me.” So they brought him. When the spirit saw Jesus, it immediately threw the boy into a convulsion. He fell to the ground and rolled around, foaming at the mouth. Jesus asked the boy’s father, “How long has he been like this?” “From childhood,” he answered. “It has often thrown him into fire or water to kill him. But if you can do anything, take pity on us and help us.” “ ‘If you can’?” said Jesus. “Everything is possible for one who believes.” Immediately the boy’s father exclaimed, “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!” When Jesus saw that a crowd was running to the scene, he rebuked the impure spirit. “You deaf and mute spirit,” he said, “I command you, come out of him and never enter him again.” The spirit shrieked, convulsed him violently and came out. The boy looked so much like a corpse that many said, “He’s dead.” But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him to his feet, and he stood up. After Jesus had gone indoors, his disciples asked him privately, “Why couldn’t we drive it out?” He replied, “This kind can come out only by prayer. ”
Mark 9:14‭-‬29 NIV
https://bible.com/bible/111/mrk.9.14-29.NIV

Christ’s compassion is like no other. Here, He met a crowd gathering around His disciples because they had failed to rebuke a deaf and mute spirit out of this boy. The crowd seemed to point an accusing finger to the disciples for not doing what they were supposed to do. A focus on the child’s family gave us a sneak preview into how his life actually was…the father talked of a spirit which was violent within him. At times, he was thrown into the fire risking his life. So much had he been tormented that it had eaten up into his belief that it shall be well. At times bad circumstances make a home in our lives leaving us with no option but to despair and give up. But this isn’t God’s plan for our lives. His desire is for us to be free…to be released from the shackles of bondage and walk in freedom. In many ways this was a stubborn spirit. But Jesus spoke and it left in a violent manner. When asked by His disciples how He managed to do it, He responded that it’s only through prayer and fasting. Prayer moves more mountains than we can think of. When we walk in struggles and persecution, do we take time to pray? When we feel cornered by situations, do we take time to pray? When things fall apart, do we commit it to God in prayer? A life of prayer is a life of victory. Prayer always wins.