Investing in Prayer Power

A man from the crowd answered, “Master, I brought my son to you because he has a dumb spirit. Wherever he is, it gets hold of him, throws him down on the ground and there he foams at the mouth and grinds his teeth. It’s simply wearing him out. I did speak to your disciples to get them to drive it out, but they hadn’t the power to do it.”

Mark 9:17-18 (PHILLIPS)

In desperation, a man brought his convulsing son to the disciples for healing. The boy suffered from seizures and was unable to speak. But, the disciples were unable to heal him. Mark chapter 9 tells us Peter, James and John were with Jesus at the time, and had just witnessed Jesus’ transfiguration on the mountaintop. When they arrived on the scene, the teachers of the law were arguing with the disciples.

Have you ever had a mountaintop experience (maybe a writers conference or an article accepted), and then hit the valley of disbelief? Have you desperately scrambled to finish an assignment, while your brain argued about your ability to do so?

The boy’s father pleaded with Jesus to do what the disciples couldn’t. Jesus said, “Everything is possible for him who believes.” (1)

The boy’s father exclaimed, “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!” (2)

Have you moaned in frustration at the blank page in front of you, saying, “I am a writer, Lord, help me believe!”?

Later, when the disciples asked Jesus why they couldn’t heal the boy, He said, “Prayer is the path to power.” (3)

I’ve heard many Christian writers affirm that statement. They credited their prayer path with ideas for works in progress and new projects launched. I admit, at times I’ve felt my words were too trivial to bother God. But, I’ve learned the hard way to stop being self-sufficient in my writing and instead ask the Lord for help.

How has prayer powered your writing life?

Exercise:

• Make a list of your idea bank.
• Make a deposit into that bank by praying over each idea.
• Jot down notes while you’re praying.
• Does one gain your “interest?”
• Look in The Christian Writer’s Market Guide for a potential investor.
• Make a withdrawal by shaping it into an article and sending it to that editor.

But if any of you needs wisdom, you should ask God for it. He is generous to everyone and will give you wisdom without criticizing you.

James 1:5 (NCV)

Over 140 of Sally Ferguson’s devotionals have been published in Pathways to God (Warner Press). She’s also written for Light From The Word, Chautauqua Mirror, Just Between Us, Adult Span Curriculum, Thriving Family, Upgrade with Dawn and ezinearticles.com. Prose Contest Winner at 2017 Greater Philly Christian Writers Conference.

Sally loves organizing retreats and seeing relationships blossom in time away from the daily routine. Her ebook, How to Plan a Women’s Retreat is available on Amazon.

Sally Ferguson lives in the beautiful countryside of Jamestown, NY with her husband and her dad.

Visit Sally’s blog at www.sallyferguson.net

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References:

1. “Everything is possible for him who believes.” Mark 9:23

2. “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!” Mark 9:24

3. “Prayer is the path to power.” NIV Disciples Study Bible, footnotes, p. 1244