January 1, 2025
DANIEL FOSTER | NEXT GEN PASTOR
Matthew 17:14-21
"When they reached the crowd, a man approached and knelt before him. 'Lord, have mercy on my son because he has seizures and suffers terribly. He often falls into the fire or into the water. I brought him to your disciples, but they couldn’t heal him.' Jesus replied, 'You unbelieving and perverse generation, how long will I be with you? How long must I put up with you? Bring him here to me.' Then Jesus rebuked the demon, and it came out of him, and from that moment the boy was healed. Then the disciples approached Jesus privately and said, 'Why couldn’t we drive it out?' 'Because of your little faith,' he told them. 'For truly I tell you, if you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you will tell this mountain, “Move from here to there,” and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you. However, this kind does not come out except by prayer and fasting.'"
It is the first of January! I am a big new year’s resolutions guy. Over the years I have used it as a catalyst for personal and professional growth. Do they last all year? Not always. But do they help get me jump started in the right direction each year? For me, I think it helps! As a church, we have an emphasis on prayer and fasting starting January 5th. These two scriptural disciplines are important and essential.
In this powerful passage from Matthew 17, we find a father desperate for help, a boy suffering from a debilitating condition, and disciples who are unable to heal him. Despite their best efforts, they cannot bring healing to the boy. After Jesus intervenes, He makes a startling statement to His disciples: "This kind does not come out except by prayer and fasting." This moment provides a clear and compelling message about the deep spiritual resources available through prayer and fasting.
At the heart of Jesus’ response to the disciples is a reminder of the importance of prayer. Prayer is not just a tool for crisis situations, but a lifeline for our relationship with God. It is through prayer that we communicate with Him, receive His guidance, and invite His power into our lives. The disciples’ inability to heal the boy wasn’t because of a lack of ability, but because they lacked the depth of prayer required to tap into God’s power in that moment.
Jesus doesn’t merely call us to pray when we are in need. He calls us to a lifestyle of prayer, one that continually connects us with His strength, wisdom, and direction. Prayer is the key to seeing God’s will accomplished, whether in our own lives or in the lives of those around us. It’s not about the length or eloquence of our prayers, but about our faith in God to do what we cannot do on our own.
As we enter into a new year, how can God deepen your faith and guide you through your personal prayer time? What do you need to hit “pause” on so that you can better focus on what God has in store for you? I look forward to entering this new year with you as we look to bring hope to our everyday lives by connecting people to their purpose in Christ!
"When they reached the crowd, a man approached and knelt before him. 'Lord, have mercy on my son because he has seizures and suffers terribly. He often falls into the fire or into the water. I brought him to your disciples, but they couldn’t heal him.' Jesus replied, 'You unbelieving and perverse generation, how long will I be with you? How long must I put up with you? Bring him here to me.' Then Jesus rebuked the demon, and it came out of him, and from that moment the boy was healed. Then the disciples approached Jesus privately and said, 'Why couldn’t we drive it out?' 'Because of your little faith,' he told them. 'For truly I tell you, if you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you will tell this mountain, “Move from here to there,” and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you. However, this kind does not come out except by prayer and fasting.'"
It is the first of January! I am a big new year’s resolutions guy. Over the years I have used it as a catalyst for personal and professional growth. Do they last all year? Not always. But do they help get me jump started in the right direction each year? For me, I think it helps! As a church, we have an emphasis on prayer and fasting starting January 5th. These two scriptural disciplines are important and essential.
In this powerful passage from Matthew 17, we find a father desperate for help, a boy suffering from a debilitating condition, and disciples who are unable to heal him. Despite their best efforts, they cannot bring healing to the boy. After Jesus intervenes, He makes a startling statement to His disciples: "This kind does not come out except by prayer and fasting." This moment provides a clear and compelling message about the deep spiritual resources available through prayer and fasting.
At the heart of Jesus’ response to the disciples is a reminder of the importance of prayer. Prayer is not just a tool for crisis situations, but a lifeline for our relationship with God. It is through prayer that we communicate with Him, receive His guidance, and invite His power into our lives. The disciples’ inability to heal the boy wasn’t because of a lack of ability, but because they lacked the depth of prayer required to tap into God’s power in that moment.
Jesus doesn’t merely call us to pray when we are in need. He calls us to a lifestyle of prayer, one that continually connects us with His strength, wisdom, and direction. Prayer is the key to seeing God’s will accomplished, whether in our own lives or in the lives of those around us. It’s not about the length or eloquence of our prayers, but about our faith in God to do what we cannot do on our own.
As we enter into a new year, how can God deepen your faith and guide you through your personal prayer time? What do you need to hit “pause” on so that you can better focus on what God has in store for you? I look forward to entering this new year with you as we look to bring hope to our everyday lives by connecting people to their purpose in Christ!
Posted in Daily Devos