" 'Have faith in God.' Jesus answered. '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. Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.' " (Mark 11:22-24}.
When
I first started to read the Bible and came across passages such as this one I had to set them aside. Even after I
took out the part about a mountain throwing itself into the sea, the passage
was still too incredible to be taken seriously… Whatever I ask for? Come
on! But I do want to believe
Jesus. I can’t put it off any longer. I
must go to Him with my oft-repeated request, “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!”(Mark 9:24).
The first thing I see is that the incredible promise Jesus made here is preceded by a simple command, “Have faith in God.” OK, I do have faith in God. He drew me out of my former atheism by His irresistible grace. I chose to believe in Him because He first chose me. I know He exists and rewards those who seek Him. I sought Him earnestly and He rewarded me by opening the eyes and ears of my heart so I can ‘see’ and ‘hear’ Him as He speaks to me through His Word the Bible. God replaced my stony rejecting heart with a heart warm with desire for Him. He enlarged my heart and I received his Son. His Spirit lives within me in union with my spirit, and He keeps on revealing to me more of himself and His purposes for my life.
The first thing I see is that the incredible promise Jesus made here is preceded by a simple command, “Have faith in God.” OK, I do have faith in God. He drew me out of my former atheism by His irresistible grace. I chose to believe in Him because He first chose me. I know He exists and rewards those who seek Him. I sought Him earnestly and He rewarded me by opening the eyes and ears of my heart so I can ‘see’ and ‘hear’ Him as He speaks to me through His Word the Bible. God replaced my stony rejecting heart with a heart warm with desire for Him. He enlarged my heart and I received his Son. His Spirit lives within me in union with my spirit, and He keeps on revealing to me more of himself and His purposes for my life.
Now I
see! The key lies in my asking according to His purposes for my life. The only
way I can ask for anything without doubting in my heart is by knowing God and
knowing myself in Christ as I trust and obey him in all that I do. The prayer of
faith is the request God will honor because that is what He wants, with
all His heart, for me.
.
