Matthew 21:18-22
When Jesus got up the next morning, he was hungry. He started out for the city, and along the way he saw a fig tree. But when he came to it, he found only leaves and no figs. So he told the tree, “You will never again grow any fruit!” Right then the fig tree dried up.
The disciples were shocked when they saw how quickly the tree had dried up. But Jesus said to them, “If you have faith and don’t doubt, I promise that you can do what I did to this tree. And you will be able to do even more. You can tell this mountain to get up and jump into the sea, and it will. If you have faith when you pray, you will be given whatever you ask for.”
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
I volunteer at the elementary school in Timothy and Zola’s classes…usually on Fridays. Timmy told me yesterday that he was spending Saturday night with his PawPaw…and they were going to the store to buy him a small Lego® set. Timmy absolutely LOVES Legos®! So when I left school near the end of the day, I hugged and kissed Timmy and said, “Have a good Saturday!” He hung his head and said, “It won’t be good.” I laughed, because this was all for my benefit…and I reminded him of the fun time he was going to have with his grandfather. Timmy demonstrated no faith that he could have plenty of fun somewhere besides our house!
So often, we shoot ourselves in the foot, just like a 7-year-old boy. We make up our minds long before we ever think of talking to God that what we are asking for is simply impossible. We not only doubt the power of our prayer…we demonstrate a lack of faith in God’s ability to answer. Does this mean that we can ask for absolutely anything, and because we believe for it, God will grant us our every wish? Certainly not! I knew someone who once stated openly that he knew that God was going to give him a Mercedes Benz…because he had prayed for it! God doesn’t operate in this manner…and this is not how He answers prayers from even the most faith-filled Christian!
We have to function within the framework that God has presented in scripture. We have to understand the teachings of Jesus - and the inherent expectations of us as Christ’s disciples. We must submit to the will of God and trust that when we ask for something, we will receive what God believes is best for us. He will answer…but it may not be exactly as we expected.
We so often pray with doubt – and without expectation. We must learn to trust that God has our back…that He truly does want what is best for us. When we begin to believe this…and ask in a humble and obedient manner for His help, care and blessings, God truly will deliver. You may never drive anything but a “clunker,” but it won’t matter – to you or anyone else.
Let’s be the kind of faithful disciple that demonstrates to the world…”I’m right where God wants me to be…and I am good with that! He hears my prayers and answers…and with Him, all things are possible!” And let’s pray expectantly and faithfully - and harness the power of God – and see how many “mountains” we can move!
©2016 Debbie Robus
When Jesus got up the next morning, he was hungry. He started out for the city, and along the way he saw a fig tree. But when he came to it, he found only leaves and no figs. So he told the tree, “You will never again grow any fruit!” Right then the fig tree dried up.
The disciples were shocked when they saw how quickly the tree had dried up. But Jesus said to them, “If you have faith and don’t doubt, I promise that you can do what I did to this tree. And you will be able to do even more. You can tell this mountain to get up and jump into the sea, and it will. If you have faith when you pray, you will be given whatever you ask for.”
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
I volunteer at the elementary school in Timothy and Zola’s classes…usually on Fridays. Timmy told me yesterday that he was spending Saturday night with his PawPaw…and they were going to the store to buy him a small Lego® set. Timmy absolutely LOVES Legos®! So when I left school near the end of the day, I hugged and kissed Timmy and said, “Have a good Saturday!” He hung his head and said, “It won’t be good.” I laughed, because this was all for my benefit…and I reminded him of the fun time he was going to have with his grandfather. Timmy demonstrated no faith that he could have plenty of fun somewhere besides our house!
So often, we shoot ourselves in the foot, just like a 7-year-old boy. We make up our minds long before we ever think of talking to God that what we are asking for is simply impossible. We not only doubt the power of our prayer…we demonstrate a lack of faith in God’s ability to answer. Does this mean that we can ask for absolutely anything, and because we believe for it, God will grant us our every wish? Certainly not! I knew someone who once stated openly that he knew that God was going to give him a Mercedes Benz…because he had prayed for it! God doesn’t operate in this manner…and this is not how He answers prayers from even the most faith-filled Christian!
We have to function within the framework that God has presented in scripture. We have to understand the teachings of Jesus - and the inherent expectations of us as Christ’s disciples. We must submit to the will of God and trust that when we ask for something, we will receive what God believes is best for us. He will answer…but it may not be exactly as we expected.
We so often pray with doubt – and without expectation. We must learn to trust that God has our back…that He truly does want what is best for us. When we begin to believe this…and ask in a humble and obedient manner for His help, care and blessings, God truly will deliver. You may never drive anything but a “clunker,” but it won’t matter – to you or anyone else.
Let’s be the kind of faithful disciple that demonstrates to the world…”I’m right where God wants me to be…and I am good with that! He hears my prayers and answers…and with Him, all things are possible!” And let’s pray expectantly and faithfully - and harness the power of God – and see how many “mountains” we can move!
©2016 Debbie Robus
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