Prayer and Faith
"Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you receive it, and it will be yours."
Mark 11:24
Mark 11:24
Mark records Jesus here speaking directly to the disciples about how to posture their prayers, and just before this verse, Jesus had cursed a fig tree, which withered, visually revealing to them the consequences of a fruitless life. This mindset sets the scene as Jesus talks about faith and prayer.
Jesus then moves on to tell the disciples that having faith in God is like throwing a mountain into the sea! This Jewish metaphor points us toward a rooted and confident faith in a powerful God.
So, if we are good-intentioned and confident, can we truly ask and receive anything? Unfortunately, many of us have misunderstood the verse, simply forgetting that our God is sovereign over our plans. Proverbs 16:9 says, “The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps.” So what do we do with this tension? Is it His plans or our desires?
We have a loving Father who wants to give good things to His children. He wants us to ask whatever we want. He doesn’t want empty words in our prayers. He wants the raw, real you. We are to have confidence in His power and submission to His will. When Jesus taught us how to pray in Matthew 6:9-13, we are prompted to remember “His will be done”.
Let us have a fruitful aim when we ask our Father for anything. Let us believe that God will give us exactly what we need, when we need it. Invite the Holy Spirit to give us a faith that can move mountains as we pray for cancer to be cured or marriages to be saved. Finally, let us bring the humility and submission of the Cross into our prayers as we trust, wait, and hope that His will be ours.
Jesus then moves on to tell the disciples that having faith in God is like throwing a mountain into the sea! This Jewish metaphor points us toward a rooted and confident faith in a powerful God.
So, if we are good-intentioned and confident, can we truly ask and receive anything? Unfortunately, many of us have misunderstood the verse, simply forgetting that our God is sovereign over our plans. Proverbs 16:9 says, “The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps.” So what do we do with this tension? Is it His plans or our desires?
We have a loving Father who wants to give good things to His children. He wants us to ask whatever we want. He doesn’t want empty words in our prayers. He wants the raw, real you. We are to have confidence in His power and submission to His will. When Jesus taught us how to pray in Matthew 6:9-13, we are prompted to remember “His will be done”.
Let us have a fruitful aim when we ask our Father for anything. Let us believe that God will give us exactly what we need, when we need it. Invite the Holy Spirit to give us a faith that can move mountains as we pray for cancer to be cured or marriages to be saved. Finally, let us bring the humility and submission of the Cross into our prayers as we trust, wait, and hope that His will be ours.
Prayer: Dear Father in heaven, let my desires be your desires. Let my plans be your plans. You give, and you take away. Lord, I am your child, and you are a perfect Father. Jesus, let me ask for the right things in the right ways. Holy Spirit, fill me with your wisdom, your humility, and power. Let my prayers be used to save souls. Let my prayers be used to help me pay my mortgage. From little to big, you hear and see me, Jesus. I believe, but help my unbelief. Amen.
Posted in 40 Days of Prayer