How To: Anything But Prayer

[S] Mark 9:29 --
And He said to them, "This kind cannot come out by anything but prayer."

Mark 9:25b --  "You deaf and mute spirit, I command you, come out of him and do not enter him again."

[O] Every time I read this passage, I am challenged because I am searching to find out what it means to "pray" in this context.  Without knowing what to pray how can just praying allow me to cast out the spirit?  Today, I see one aspect of the prayer Jesus mentions.  Through prayer ask for discernment to know what spirit I am dealing with.  It is as if when demons are called out by their names in the name of Jesus they have no choice but to obey, but if I don't call them by their correct names, then they don't seem to have the binding.  In verse 25b I am reading how Jesus specifically called out these spirits (deaf and mute) and commanded them to come out and never to return.  We have to deal with many evil spirits around us because we're in a constant spiritual warfare so I will surely be remembering to ask for the discerning heart in the circumstances I face daily.

[A] Next time I sense a spiritual battle, I will ask for His discernment and I will cast out the evil spirits by calling their exact names.

[P] Dear Heavenly Father, thank you for opening my eyes a little bit more as I read this passage again.  I am thankful for Your empowerment through Jesus' name and blood.  May I apply what You've shown me in my life in appropriate situations to bring out Your wonderful glory.  In Jesus' name.  Amen.