*Text: Mark 11: 24*
“I tell you the truth, you can say to this mountain, ‘May you be lifted up and thrown into the sea,’ and it will happen. But you must really believe it will happen and have no doubt in your heart. I tell you, you can pray for anything, and if you believe that you’ve received it, it will be yours.”
Prayer is powerful. It can literally move mountains. That is exactly what our Lord Jesus said will happen when a believer prays with faith. Such a person can command the mountain to move into the sea, and it will happen. Jesus promised us that we will receive whatever we ask for in prayer, as long as we believe. The Lord explained that it glorifies the Father to answer our prayers. So, what can we receive in prayer? In prayer we can receive anything we believe is possible.
In other words, our faith is the only condition to our prayer. We should never base our prayers on the circumstances around us, but on the power and the character of God. That is why the scripture tells us that we walk by faith and not by sight (2 Cor. 5: 7). When we pray for difficult situations, or situations that looks impossible, we should not be discouraged by what we see, because as God’s children we do not walk by what we see, rather we walk by what we believe. Sometimes the answer might take longer to come than we expect, yet we need to persevere in prayer. Jesus spoke about this in the Gospels. He said that at times we need to pray about something persistently, day and night, because God will answer us as long as we do not lose faith.
What can we pray persistently about? Anything consistent with the character and the will of God. The scripture also warns us that we can pray amiss if our prayer is motivated by selfish ambition. For example, prayers about us winning the lottery, so that others would envy our fortune, or about a coworker getting fired, because we are angry with them fall into this category. In cases like the scenarios listed above, our requests contradict God’s character. When we pray, we need to surrender our will to God’s. Then, we will discover the good, pleasing and perfect will of God for us and our circumstances.
Even Jesus had to submit His will to the Father’s will in prayer in the garden of Gethsemane. Christ knew how much He will suffer on the cross. He was honest with the Father and asked Him if the cup of suffering could possibly be taken away from Him. Christ concluded His prayer, however by saying, “Not My will, but Yours be done”. When we submit our will to the Father’s will, we can experience the immense power of prayer. A righteous person’s prayer is powerful because it reflects the will and the heart of the Almighty God. Nothing is impossible for such prayer.
Therefore when we pray aright and in total conformity with the will of God, all we need do is to believe in Him and we shall receive whatever we have asked. Shalom
Prayer Points
1. Father you are the prayer answering God, thank you for your commitment to answering my prayers
2. Thank you O Lord for the endless possibilities that is available to me in the place of prayer
3. Father as long as I persist and remain in faith, you will hear me, grant me grace to always persevere in prayers in Jesus name
4. Father please help me to move away from the pursuit of selfish ambition in the place of prayer, help me O Lord not to pray amiss
5. Father I submit my will totally to your will, help me Lord to always in line with your will for my life in Jesus name.
