I believe; help my unbelief. – Mark 9:24
Russell Kelso Carter was a man with a wide range of passions and abilities. An outstanding athlete as a youth, he found faith in Christ and became a minister. He began teaching at the Pennsylvania Military Academy, including as professor of chemistry, natural science, civil engineering, and mathematics. He also published books in his different disciplines and wrote several novels. While a professor, he began having problems with his heart. He went to California spending three years as a sheep rancher to try to strengthen his health, but shortly he was at a state of collapse. He called on a minister from Boston and they decided to try healing him through faith. He prayed and was restored.
Later, he sought a greater presence of God. Things were going well for him until he became sick once again, convinced that he had to hunt for more power in prayer. Suffering from “consumption,” he again returned to California, where he studied medicine, ultimately returning to Baltimore as a physician. Along the way, he wrote the lyrics to “Standing on the Promises,” an old hymn loved by many. One of the song’s very autobiographical verses says, “Standing on the promises that cannot fail, when the howling storms of doubt and fear assail, by the living Word of God I shall prevail, standing on the promises of God.”
All of God’s people have doubts from time to time. There are even doubts about faith and doubts about whether God cares for you or listens to your prayers. God is there. He desires to help you overcome any unbelief and fear you have. Ask Him to keep you close to Him, holding any unbelief at bay. Stand on His promises. He is faithful to keep them. Intercede for members of Congress to find release from their fears and doubts through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.
Today’s Verse: Mark 9:24
Immediately the father of the child cried out and said, “I believe; help my unbelief!”
All Scripture quotations and audio are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Recommended for further reading: Mark 9:17-25
17 And someone from the crowd answered him, “Teacher, I brought my son to you, for he has a spirit that makes him mute. 18 And whenever it seizes him, it throws him down, and he foams and grinds his teeth and becomes rigid. So I asked your disciples to cast it out, and they were not able.” 19 And he answered them, “O faithless generation, how long am I to be with you? How long am I to bear with you? Bring him to me.” 20 And they brought the boy to him. And when the spirit saw him, immediately it convulsed the boy, and he fell on the ground and rolled about, foaming at the mouth. 21 And Jesus asked his father, “How long has this been happening to him?” And he said, “From childhood. 22 And it has often cast him into fire and into water, to destroy him. But if you can do anything, have compassion on us and help us.” 23 And Jesus said to him, “‘If you can’! All things are possible for one who believes.” 24 Immediately the father of the child cried out and said, “I believe; help my unbelief!” 25 And when Jesus saw that a crowd came running together, he rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it, “You mute and deaf spirit, I command you, come out of him and never enter him again.”
All Scripture quotations and audio are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
