Pastor Gary's OYB Devotion Archive for February 27

DO YOU HAVE A MIXTURE OF FAITH AND DOUBT?

From: February 27, 2025

‘Immediately the father of the child cried out and said, “I believe; help my unbelief!”’ (Mark 9:24 ESV).

This was the confession of a father who desperately wanted to believe, but still had doubts. This doesn’t sound like the greatest of confessions, yet Jesus healed the man’s son nonetheless.

Jesus still answers the prayers of those who have a mixture of doubt and belief. The important thing is to confess the doubt, saying, “Jesus, help my unbelief! Increase my faith!” We all begin our journey with Jesus with a “mustard seed” of faith. Following Him, the seed grows into a tree, overshadowing all our doubts, so that only our believing remains.

The father needed help from the Lord not only to heal his son, but to help him overcome his unbelief. He urgently asked Jesus for both. And the Lord answered him.

What are you facing today with a mixture of faith and unbelief? Bring both to the Lord in prayer today. As someone has said before, it’s not GREAT faith in God, but faith in a GREAT God that matters.

PRAYER: Dear Father, we all face things beyond our control, things we can’t handle ourselves. We bring them to You for help. We believe Lord, yet help us overcome our unbelief. For even our faith is a gift from You. In Jesus’ name, amen.

LEARNING TO LISTEN

From: February 27, 2024

“This is my beloved Son; listen to him” (Mark 9:7 ESV).

Peter couldn’t keep quiet in that holy moment on the mountaintop when Jesus was transfigured and Moses and Elijah appeared with Him. So, a cloud overshadowed Peter, James and John, and the voice of the Father was heard saying, “This is my dearly loved Son; listen to him!”

Peter represents many of us. How often we interrupt holy moments with our own speech, when quiet listening is called for. Even in prayer, we pour out our laundry list of needs to the Father, but forget to be quiet and listen for the voice of His Son. Have you learned to ask the Lord to speak to you when you read His Word? Have you learned to say as young Samuel did, “Speak Lord, your servant is listening” (1 Sam. 3:7)?

PRAYER: Dear Father, forgive us when we allow the noise around us and the loud concerns in our heads to drown out Your voice. Today, we say, “Speak Lord, your servant is listening.” We are learning to listen to Your Word. Sharpen our hearing to hear You better. In Jesus’ name, amen.

LEARN TO ENCOURAGE YOURSELF IN THE LORD

From: February 27, 2023

“Why am I discouraged? Why is my heart so sad? I will put my hope in God! I will praise him again— my Savior and my God!” (Psalm 43:5 NLT).

David learned to address his own soul in his prayers to God. Knowing that he was feeling discouraged and sad, he encouraged himself in the Lord (1 Sam. 30:6), He urged his soul to hope in God.

We can learn from David’s prayer life. Sometimes we don’t even know why we feel discouraged, but we can direct our souls to God. He knows us better than we know ourselves. Putting our hope in Him and lifting up prayers of praise, not only brightens our faces, but it refreshes our souls.

When you are feeling down and discouraged, ask the Lord about it. Give Him your attitude. Move your dependence off of yourself and put your hope in God. Instead of expressing your blues, sing your praise. Let the Lord renew and encourage you.

Do you feel sad or discouraged today? Direct your soul to hope in God. For he cares for you.

PRAYER: Dear Father, You know us better than we know ourselves. We bring our hearts to You, asking You to search us and reveal to us where we may not be trusting You fully. Show us the source of our discouragement that we might turn it over to You. Thank You for Your love and care for us. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

“I do believe, but help me overcome my unbelief!” (Mark 9:24 NLT).

From: February 27, 2022

OVERCOMING OUR DOUBTS

This is the confession of a man who desperately wanted to believe, but still had doubts. This doesn’t sound like the greatest of confessions, yet Jesus healed the man’s son nonetheless. Jesus still answers the prayers of those who have a mixture of doubt and belief. The important thing is to confess the doubt, saying, “Jesus, help my unbelief! Increase my faith!” We all begin our journey with Jesus with a “mustard seed” of faith. Following Him, the seed grows into a tree, overshadowing all our doubts, so that only our believing remains.

The man needed help from the Lord not only to heal his son, but to help him overcome his unbelief. He urgently asked Jesus for both. And the Lord answered him.

What are you facing today with a mixture of faith and unbelief? Bring both to the Lord in prayer today.

PRAYER: Dear Father, we all face things beyond our control, things we can’t handle ourselves. We bring them to You for help. We believe Lord, yet help us overcome our unbelief. For even our faith is a gift from You. In Jesus’ name, amen.

“This is My beloved Son; listen to Him!” (Mark 9:7 HCSB).

From: February 27, 2021

LEARNING TO LISTEN

Peter couldn’t keep quiet in that holy moment on the mountaintop when Jesus was transfigured and Moses and Elijah appeared with Him. So, a cloud overshadowed Peter, James and John, and the voice of the Father was heard saying, “This is my dearly loved Son; listen to him!”

Peter represents many of us. How often we interrupt holy moments with our own speech, when quiet listening is called for. Even in prayer, we pour out our laundry list of needs to the Father, but forget to be quiet and listen for the voice of His Son. Have you learned to ask the Lord to speak to you when you read His Word? Have you learned to say as young Samuel did, “Speak Lord, your servant is listening” (1 Sam. 3:7)?

PRAYER: Dear Father, forgive us when we allow the noise around us and the loud concerns in our heads to drown out Your voice. Today, we say, “Speak Lord, your servant is listening.” We are learning to listen to Your Word. Sharpen our hearing to hear You better. In Jesus’ name, amen.

“Why am I discouraged? Why is my heart so sad? I will put my hope in God! I will praise him again— my Savior and my God!” (Psalm 43:5 NLT).

From: February 27, 2019

HOW TO ENCOURAGE YOURSELF IN THE LORD

David learned to address his own soul in his prayers to God. Knowing that he was feeling “cast down” and “disquieted,” he encouraged himself in the Lord (1 Sam. 30:6), urging his soul to “hope in God.” We can learn from David’s prayer life. Sometimes we don’t even know why we feel discouraged, but we can direct our souls to God. He knows us better than we know ourselves. Putting our hope in Him and lifting up prayers of praise, not only brightens our faces (“countenance”), but it refreshes our souls.

When you are feeling down and discouraged, ask the Lord about it. Give Him your attitude. Move your dependence off of yourself and put your hope in God. Instead of expressing your blues, put on your praise. Let the Lord renew and encourage you. Do you feel sad or discouraged today? Direct your soul to hope in God. For he cares for you.

PRAYER: Dear Father, You know us better than we know ourselves. We bring our hearts to You, asking You to search us and reveal to us where we may not be trusting You fully. Show us the source of our discouragement that we might turn it over to You. Thank You for Your love and care for us. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

“This is my dearly loved Son. Listen to him.” (Mark 9:7 NLT).

From: February 27, 2018

LEARNING TO BE QUIET AND LISTEN

Peter couldn’t keep quiet in that holy moment on the mountaintop when Jesus was transfigured and Moses and Elijah appeared with Him. So, a cloud overshadowed Peter, James and John, and the voice of the Father was heard saying, “This is my dearly loved Son. Listen to him.”

Peter represents many of us. How often we interrupt holy moments with our own speech, when quiet listening is called for. Even in prayer, we pour out our laundry list of needs to the Father, but forget to be quiet and listen for the voice of His Son. Have you learned to say as young Samuel did, “Speak Lord, your servant is listening” (1 Sam. 3:7)?

“And you shall be holy to Me, for I the Lord am holy, and have separated you from the peoples, that you should be Mine” (Leviticus 20:26 NKJV).

From: February 27, 2017

The Lord taught the Israelites that they were to “be holy to” Him. It was He that had “separated” them from other “peoples.” Just as the temple implements and clothing were actually common until they were “separated” from others and set apart for special use, so they were to “be holy to” the Lord. That they were chosen “from the peoples” of the world was not a rejection of the other nations. The Israelites were not holy to Him because of who they were, but because of who He is. He had chosen them and “separated” them from other peoples because of His intent to make them the means by which He would call all peoples to Himself. The prophet Zechariah wrote of this future purpose, saying, “Many nations shall be joined to the Lord in that day, and they shall become My people. And I will dwell in your midst” (Zech. 2:11). Until then, the many moral, civil and ceremonial laws were given to separate the Israelites from the other nations and prepare them to be the people to whom the Messiah, God’s Son, would be born. As John wrote in fulfillment of Zechariah, “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us.”

“Immediately the father of the child cried out and said, ‘I believe; help my unbelief!'” (Mark 9:24 ESV)

From: February 27, 2016

This is the confession of a man who desperately wanted to believe, but still had doubts. This isn’t the greatest of confessions, yet Jesus healed the man’s son nonetheless. Jesus still answers the prayers of those who have a mixture of doubt and belief. The important thing is to confess the doubt, saying, “Jesus, help my unbelief! Increase my faith!” We all begin our journey with Jesus with a “mustard seed” of faith. Following Him, the seed grows into a tree, overshadowing all our doubts, so that only our believing remains.

“Why are you cast down, O my soul? And why are you disquieted within me? Hope in God; For I shall yet praise Him, The help of my countenance and my God” (Psalm 43:5 NKJV)

From: February 27, 2015

David learned to address his own soul in his prayers to God. Knowing that he was feeling “cast down” and “disquieted,” he encouraged himself in the Lord (1 Sam. 30:6), urging his soul to “hope in God.” We can learn from David’s prayer life. Sometimes we don’t even know why we feel discouraged, but we can direct our souls to God. He knows us better than we know ourselves. Putting our hope in Him and lifting up prayers of praise, not only brightens our faces (“countenance”), but it refreshes our souls. Do you feel sad or discouraged today? Direct your soul to hope in God. For he cares for you.