There’s a moment in Scripture that hits deep every time I read it. A desperate father brings his demon-possessed son to Jesus, heartbroken and helpless. The disciples had tried to help, but they couldn’t. And when they asked Jesus why, He answered plainly:

“Because of your unbelief… However, this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting.”

— Matthew 17:20–21 (NKJV)

So many times, we read that and think the key to driving out darkness is just to do more—pray harder, fast longer. And while prayer and fasting are powerful tools, I believe Jesus was pointing us to something even deeper: the root of the issue wasn’t a lack of activity—it was a lack of belief.

Prayer and fasting are not just methods for spiritual warfare; they are disciplines that strengthen our faith and confront our unbelief. They strip away distractions, align us with God’s will, and deepen our trust in His power. It’s in the quiet, surrendered places where we stop striving and start believing.

Just like the father in Mark 9:24, we can say,

“Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!”

Brother, sister—before you try to cast out demons, confront the one that lives in doubt. Let your time in prayer and fasting shape your faith, not just your words. Because when belief is restored, authority follows.

You don’t need to work harder. You need to believe deeper.

Stay grounded. Stay faithful.

—Rev. Carlos