Assistance in the Choice to Believe

Continuing in exploring the word believe:

Mark 1.15 – ‘”The time has come,’ Jesus said.  ’The kingdom of God is near.  Repent and believe the good news!’”

Mark 9.24 – “Immediately the boy’s father (whose son was tormented by an evil spirit) exclaimed, ‘I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!’”

Jesus clearly presents belief as a choice and yet the man in the later story clearly asks for Jesus’ help in order to believe more!

What must happen in our lives to enable us to believe?  I think first a recognition that God is right and we are wrong.  This is where repentance comes in – “Repent and believe the good news.”  With out turning from our wrong ways we cannot believe in the right ways of God.  As long as we continue to believe that our ways are the right ways, God’s ways will never make sense to us.  Perhaps this is why the man in the story asked for help to overcome his belief, perhaps he really wasn’t sure that Jesus was who he said he was and could do the things he said he would do.

When I don’t believe do I ask for the Lord’s help to overcome it?  Do you?  Or do we hide from him in that?