“… whatever you ask …”
“Have faith in God,” Jesus answered. 23 “I tell you the truth, if anyone says to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart but believes that what he says will happen, it will be done for him. 24 Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. 25 And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive him, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins.”
(Mark 11:22-25; NIV. Please read Mark 10-11 … at least a couple of times.)
These are the words of Jesus. I trust Him … don’t you?
So … I am not going to “explain away” the promise. I am not going to offer “alternative views”. I am just going to be believe Jesus.
I am also … going to pray.
ON SECOND THOUGHT: The fact that there will be people that refuse to acknowledge the will of God in these matters or refuse to trust in the power of God in these matters … does not change the faithfulness of the One of made the promise. Lord, teach me to pray.
August 15, 2008 at 10:17 am
I think for me, Rex, the struggle has always been with the “believe that you have received it” part because – why would God give me anything…I have always prayed and “hoped that I would receive it”….however I am sure that he key (since Jesus said it twice) is to believe and not doubt…this is something I struggle with and am trying to develop more boldness of faith in believeing.
August 15, 2008 at 11:06 am
Rex, I know you know what I pray for everyday. Only I’ve never really believed God would actually grant me that request. I need to have faith that He already has and that in Gods time I will see that “mountain” fall into the sea. (With a big millstone on top of it….)
August 15, 2008 at 1:29 pm
“Pray and then live like God has answered.” When I heard this statment a long time ago it made sense … but is hard for me to live. My thinking gets in the way. Many times as I pray for something thoughts will come into my head, “That’ll never happen.” “God doesn’t do that kind-of stuff.” Then I see Him answer … in obvious ways He answers … with exactly what we’ve asked for. So why do those thoughts still crowd my mind? I don’t know. Will I ever be able to change that thinking? I don’t know. But I will not stop asking.
I think my faith is shown through the asking. Even though my mind may show signs of doubt … I have enough faith that I will keep asking knowing that God can do more than I can ask or imagine.
August 15, 2008 at 8:04 pm
There are some things I can pray and believe that God will take care of it…that God will do it. And there are times that my mind simply will not let me be convinced. Doubts creep in and my unbelief takes over. Doubts about my worthiness, (why would God even listen to you after the things you have done?) doubts about whether I should even be asking for the sort of thing I am asking. Jesus says to ask and believe and don’t doubt.
I have learned to be more specific…I have learned to be a little more bold in my prayer…but I have much to learn about praying. I have much faith building to do as well. Faith comes by hearing the Word…I think I’ll keep reading and learning and discovering God’s truths. Maybe my doubts will be pushed further and further away.