November 11th, 2026
Today's Scripture: Mark 9:14–29
14 When they came to the other disciples, they saw a large crowd around them and the teachers of the law arguing with them. 15 As soon as all the people saw Jesus, they were overwhelmed with wonder and ran to greet him.
16 “What are you arguing with them about?” he asked.
17 A man in the crowd answered, “Teacher, I brought you my son, who is possessed by a spirit that has robbed him of speech. 18 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.”
19 “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.”
20 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.
21 Jesus asked the boy’s father, “How long has he been like this?”
“From childhood,” he answered. 22 “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.”
23 “‘If you can’?” said Jesus. “Everything is possible for one who believes.”
24 Immediately the boy’s father exclaimed, “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!”
25 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.”
26 The spirit shrieked, convulsed him violently and came out. The boy looked so much like a corpse that many said, “He’s dead.” 27 But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him to his feet, and he stood up.
28 After Jesus had gone indoors, his disciples asked him privately, “Why couldn’t we drive it out?”
29 He replied, “This kind can come out only by prayer.”
16 “What are you arguing with them about?” he asked.
17 A man in the crowd answered, “Teacher, I brought you my son, who is possessed by a spirit that has robbed him of speech. 18 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.”
19 “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.”
20 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.
21 Jesus asked the boy’s father, “How long has he been like this?”
“From childhood,” he answered. 22 “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.”
23 “‘If you can’?” said Jesus. “Everything is possible for one who believes.”
24 Immediately the boy’s father exclaimed, “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!”
25 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.”
26 The spirit shrieked, convulsed him violently and came out. The boy looked so much like a corpse that many said, “He’s dead.” 27 But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him to his feet, and he stood up.
28 After Jesus had gone indoors, his disciples asked him privately, “Why couldn’t we drive it out?”
29 He replied, “This kind can come out only by prayer.”
There's a father in Mark 9 who comes to Jesus desperate for help.
His son is suffering. He's tried to find help through Jesus' disciples, but they haven't been able to heal him.
And now he stands before Jesus with a mixture of hope and uncertainty. He wants to believe Jesus can help. But he's struggling.
And I love the honesty of his response in verse 24: "I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!"
There's something incredibly human about that. Faith and uncertainty can exist in the same person at the same moment. We sometimes approach prayer as though we need to have everything figured out before we come to God. We want to know what to say. We want to have the right understanding. We want to be confident.
But this father brings what he actually has. His need. His hope. His uncertainty.
And he brings all of it to Jesus. As we enter this season of discernment, I don't want anyone to think they need to have some great insight about Heritage's future.
You may have questions. You may have concerns. You may have no idea what God might be doing next. That's okay. We can bring our questions to God just as readily as we bring our convictions.
Pray Honestly
Today, don't worry about having the right words.
Tell God what you believe. Tell Him what you're struggling to understand. Tell Him where you're uncertain.
And ask Him to help you grow in faith.
You don't have to pretend to be certain in order to pray faithfully.
His son is suffering. He's tried to find help through Jesus' disciples, but they haven't been able to heal him.
And now he stands before Jesus with a mixture of hope and uncertainty. He wants to believe Jesus can help. But he's struggling.
And I love the honesty of his response in verse 24: "I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!"
There's something incredibly human about that. Faith and uncertainty can exist in the same person at the same moment. We sometimes approach prayer as though we need to have everything figured out before we come to God. We want to know what to say. We want to have the right understanding. We want to be confident.
But this father brings what he actually has. His need. His hope. His uncertainty.
And he brings all of it to Jesus. As we enter this season of discernment, I don't want anyone to think they need to have some great insight about Heritage's future.
You may have questions. You may have concerns. You may have no idea what God might be doing next. That's okay. We can bring our questions to God just as readily as we bring our convictions.
Pray Honestly
Today, don't worry about having the right words.
Tell God what you believe. Tell Him what you're struggling to understand. Tell Him where you're uncertain.
And ask Him to help you grow in faith.
You don't have to pretend to be certain in order to pray faithfully.
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