Only by Prayer

I'm reading the Bible in one year and the New Testament reading for February 26 is Mark 9:2-32 (The Transfiguration and the Healing of a Boy With an Evil Spirit). I'm a few days ahead, at least for now...

"After Jesus had gone indoors, his disciples asked him privately, "Why couldn't we drive it out?" He replied, "This kind can come out only by prayer."" - Mark 9:28-29 (NIV)

I hadn't really paid much attention to this before, but what Jesus tells His disciples in Mark 9:29 is simply stunning. In effect, the disciples could not heal the boy because they did not pray about it!

If the disciples had to pray to accomplish what God had called them to do, how much more do we have to pray to 'test and approve what God's will is - his good, pleasing and perfect will' (Romans 12:2, NIV)!

Of course, prayer - like faith - is a necessary but not a sufficient condition for healing. Prayer is a necessary condition for healing (at least in Mark 9) because the disciples could not heal the boy without prayer. However, prayer is not a sufficient condition for healing because prayer does not guarantee healing.

Link: Watch and Pray (25 Feb 10)