“…For truly I say unto you, ‘That WHOSOEVER shall say unto this mountain, “Be removed and cast into the sea;” and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith.'” Mark 11:23
Dear Ones:
Perhaps the most neglected aspect of the Christian life is prayer, consistent, persistent, believing prayer. And yet, the Lord says, “….for My house shall be called a house of prayer for ALL PEOPLE.” (Is. 56:7) Now, why would God declare this to be so if He did not intend that the primary thing in that house be prayer, believing prayer? How much do we live in the reality of this truth? Do we truly believe that God can lead us in prayer, and consequently will answer our prayers, my individual prayer?
The normal Christian life is one of faith, every increasing, ever consistent faith in God. This is why the Lord Jesus tells us: “HAVE (constantly) faith in God.” This is NOT an option for the disciple of Christ. We are at all times and in every place, to believe God, according to His promises, and obediently follow Christ according to His word. In this passage in the Gospel of Mark, we find that faith has “works.” There are definite, and specific, ramifications of exercising faith, even to the moving of mountains. But let us be mindful of the fact that faith and prayer are interwoven, and that it is by prayer first that God works in and through us.
“Therefore, I say unto you, ‘What things soever ye desire, WHEN YE PRAY, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.'” (Mk. 11:24) Here is the application of Christ’s teaching on faith, obstacles to faith, and the practical exercise of faith. It is specific, believing prayer. Do we believe it? Do we practice it? Do we live in the expectancy of it?
Throughout the Bible we discover men and women who truly lived by faith, howbeit, imperfectly. As we examine their lives, and experiences, we discover that they were such because they were also individuals who understood the need, even the necessity, of believing prayer. They prayed earnestly, specifically, seeking God. Then they lived in expectant faith, believing Him to answer, however and whenever He chose. These were individuals who, as John put it, “…KNEW that He heard them (and us), whatsoever they asked, they (we) KNEW that they had (received) the petitions that they asked of Him.” (1 Jn. 5:15)
Dear Father, faithful Father, and Lord Jesus, strengthen our hearts today to BE men and women of faith, who live by this principle, and prove it by our prayers. Lead us by Thy Spirit in prayer, revealing to us increasingly what Thy will is, and giving us the desires of Thy heart. THEN we too shall KNOW that You hear us, and that we HAVE that which we have asked of thee, even to the moving of mountains. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Love, Dad