Hey everybody, welcome to the podcast, I’m Nick and it’s awesome to be here with you today.

Today is June 30.
Each day, we follow a simple rhythm: Slow Down, Read, Notice, Reread, Meditate, Respond, and Exercise.

Let’s begin.

Slow Down

You are stepping into a sacred space with Jesus.

Set aside the distractions of your day.

Close your eyes. Take a deep breath in, then slowly release it.

As you inhale, whisper: “Jesus, I believe.” 
As you exhale, pray: “Help my unbelief.”
Do this three times, then rest in His presence.

Read

When they returned to the other disciples, they saw a large crowd surrounding them, and some teachers of religious law were arguing with them. When the crowd saw Jesus, they were overwhelmed with awe, and they ran to greet him.
“What is all this arguing about?” Jesus asked.
One of the men in the crowd spoke up and said, “Teacher, I brought my son so you could heal him. He is possessed by an evil spirit that won’t let him talk. And whenever this spirit seizes him, it throws him violently to the ground. Then he foams at the mouth and grinds his teeth and becomes rigid. So I asked your disciples to cast out the evil spirit, but they couldn’t do it.”
Jesus said to them, “You faithless people! How long must I be with you? How long must I put up with you? Bring the boy to me.” 
So they brought the boy. But when the evil spirit saw Jesus, it threw the child into a violent convulsion, and he fell to the ground, writhing and foaming at the mouth.
“How long has this been happening?” Jesus asked the boy’s father.
He replied, “Since he was a little boy. The spirit often throws him into the fire or into water, trying to kill him. Have mercy on us and help us, if you can.”
“What do you mean, ‘If I can’?” Jesus asked. “Anything is possible if a person believes.”
The father instantly cried out, “I do believe, but help me overcome my unbelief!” 
When Jesus saw that the crowd of onlookers was growing, he rebuked the evil spirit. “Listen, you spirit that makes this boy unable to hear and speak,” he said. “I command you to come out of this child and never enter him again!”
Then the spirit screamed and threw the boy into another violent convulsion and left him. The boy appeared to be dead. A murmur ran through the crowd as people said, “He’s dead.” But Jesus took him by the hand and helped him to his feet, and he stood up. 
Afterward, when Jesus was alone in the house with his disciples, they asked him, “Why couldn’t we cast out that evil spirit?”
Jesus replied, “This kind can be cast out only by prayer.”
(Mark 9:14–29, NLT)

Notice

What stands out to you in this passage?

Is there a phrase or truth that speaks directly to you?
Hold it gently before the Lord.

Reread

Hear this story again — and notice the raw honesty of the father's prayer.

Meditate

Jesus comes down from the mountain and walks into chaos. A crowd has gathered. The teachers of the law are arguing with the disciples. And in the middle of it all is a desperate father whose son is possessed by a spirit that has tormented him since childhood - throwing him into fire, into water, trying to destroy him.
The father brought his son to the disciples, but they couldn't cast the spirit out. So when Jesus arrives, the father says: "If you can do anything, have compassion on us and help us."
Jesus responds: "If I can? Everything is possible for one who believes."
And the father cries out — one of the most honest prayers in all of Scripture: "I do believe; help my unbelief!"
This is not perfect faith. This is not confident certainty. This is a man who believes and doubts at the same time. He's been disappointed before. He's seen his son suffer for years. He brought him to the disciples and nothing happened. And now he's standing before Jesus with hope and fear all mixed together, saying: I want to believe. I'm trying to believe. But I need help.
And Jesus doesn't scold him. Jesus heals his son.
Later, the disciples ask Jesus privately: "Why couldn't we drive it out?" And Jesus says: "This kind can come out only by prayer."
Sometimes the battle is bigger than we think. Sometimes our own strength, our own authority, our own gifting is not enough. Sometimes we need to stay close to God - abiding, dependent, prayerful - because the fight requires more than technique. It requires connection.
Take a few moments to reflect on this question:
Where in my life am I experiencing both belief and unbelief at the same time — and am I willing to bring that tension honestly to Jesus?

Respond

Jesus, I believe. Help my unbelief. I'm bringing You my doubt, my disappointment, my fear — and I'm asking You to meet me here.

Exercise

The rush of life will meet you again when you leave this sacred place—but you can carry this moment into your day by forming new habits.
Habit: Praying Honestly

Today's habit is radical honesty in prayer: sometime today, pray the father's prayer in your own words. Identify one area where your faith is mixed with doubt - where you want to believe but you're struggling — and bring it to Jesus without pretense.
Don't clean it up. Don't make it sound more spiritual. Just tell Him the truth: "I believe, but I'm scared." "I trust You, but I'm frustrated." "I know You can, but I'm not sure You will." Let your prayer be honest. Let it be real.
Jesus doesn't need your perfect faith. He needs your honest heart. And He can work with that.

I have one ask of you before you go, could you please share this podcast with one person today? One person at a time will grow this podcast to help more people walk with Jesus.
That’s your two minutes with Jesus for today.

Now, take what you’ve heard…share it and live it.

Until next time, keep slowing down, keep listening, and keep walking with Jesus.