Mountain Moving Faith

Week 3- Day 2

Do not be discouraged.

Mark 11:23,24 "Truly I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, 'Be taken up and cast into the sea,' and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says is going to happen, it will be granted him. Therefore I say to you, all things for which you pray and ask, believe that you have received them, and they will be granted you."   

That is such a big promise- like big, too hard to believe, 'how could He say that and leave it in Scripture' type of thing! Yet this is a promise book which centers on a Savior who is ABLE to DO the outrageously impossible.

 Are we going to believe what His word says? 

                          Do you want to take Him up on it?

I believe that there is an open invitation to fix our eyes upon Him and watch in anticipation for Him to pour forth faith that moves mountains.

        To not be discouraged, we will have to look away from all that surrounds us that is so discouraging in this world, and continually and habitually (which is the tense of that verb in Hebrews 12:2) look to Him, 'fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith'. 

As we focus on Him and His truth, omnipotence, faithfulness, lovingkindness, and the promises in His Word (and are reminded of just how Big and Able He truly is), He will pour forth faith, even in the places where you are most tempted to be discouraged and to fear.

Jesus rebuked the cause of His disciples' fear (the fierce gale of wind) and the effects of that cause (the waves breaking over the boat and filling it up), saying to the sea, "Hush, be still." And the wind died down and a great calm occurred. 

Change in cause and effect can come as sudden and as unexpected as that. He speaks. 

Then He asked a poignant question that we should ask ourselves and consider, "Why are you afraid (cowardly)? Do you still have no faith?" (Mark 4:35-40) They had circumstantial 'reason' to be afraid, as do we daily, ....

....yet do we?

       He is THE Almighty. You may lay your fear and your burden down at His feet to carry for you and trust Him to accomplish what concerns you this very day, and in the days to come. He is ABLE to make you to walk in confidence, confidence in His loving care for your plight and in what He is able to do. 

He is intimately acquainted with all of your ways, cares, and concerns. 

Be still and know that He IS God, the Maker of the heavens and the earth.  (There is such a depth to those familiar words.  Try it.)

-Is there a 'mountain' that needs to be moved in your life? What does He say about it?

-Ask God to increase your faith and to show you how to pray according to His will and heart.

-What issue/circumstance/belief/calling/relationship/'storm' does He want to pour faith upon? What does He invite you to believe Him for today?

-And one more last question to press into: what do you need to lay down at His feet, to leave in His care, and let Him carry for you? And what does that look like? Imagine it.  What would it look like to surrender it to Him? (Surrender may take action steps.)

(This is part of a 6 week prayer strategy series. To return to 'watch the ramparts' homepage: click here).