Monday's Blessing
Matthew 21:22
"If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer."
I am not an extraordinary individual with an immense conduit of faith. I am just and ordinary person who has been lucky enough to know an extraordinary God. I am content with the fact he created all that surrounds me - the ocean swells I note each day, the rise of the sun each morning, and the grains of sand that squeeze my toes when I traipse. I am confident he is always there to answer my prayers even if I am not happy with the first interpretation. I know somewhere down the line the light will shine and the glory will be exposed.
Jesus said, "If you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there' and it will move." (Matthew 17:20) We don't have to believe that the mountain will move; we just need to believe that God will move that mountain. This type of faith requires that we recognize that HE is able to move peaks, volcanoes, and earthquakes as easy as a mustard seed.
Sometimes faith comes easy for more. Each morning I recite my prayers for loved ones and those who requested guidance and intervention from our Lord. Most of the time these are simplistic requests that require little emotion. But there are days that my entire being is swabbed in agony begging for relief. These are the days that require great faith and I must remind myself that patience is the key. I must have the extreme faith that God will answer and take care of my call. These days I must generate a bit for fortitude.
The disciples didn't have this kind of faith at first either! When Jesus healed a boy that they couldn't, they asked him why. He told them, "Because you have so little faith." (Matthew 17:20) He then added, "If you have faith..... nothing will be impossible for you." (verse 20) When they wondered how his simple curse could wither a fig tree, Jesus said, "I tell you the truth, if you have faith and do not doubt, not only can you do what has done to the fig tree, but also you can say to this mountain, 'Go throw yourself into the sea,'and it will be done. If you believe you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer." Matthew 21:21-22) As the disciples faith grew, God began to use them to perform amazing miracles.
But here's where it gets tricky. We often pray for what we want having full faith in that act, and then receive something we weren't ready for. Because of our natural impatience it could be weeks or months until we finally realize this was the best blessing after all! Imagine if we had such immense faith to begin with! Why that first unwelcomed blessing could be actually satisfying knowing full well God has everything in control! This is where we must fine-tune our faith realizing that God has our back after all.
Dear God,
Remind me continually you have everything
under control as I pray. I know you are
trustworthy and always have my best
interest at heart. Help my faith to grow
so that I experience less turmoil as I pray.
Matthew 21:22
"If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer."
I am not an extraordinary individual with an immense conduit of faith. I am just and ordinary person who has been lucky enough to know an extraordinary God. I am content with the fact he created all that surrounds me - the ocean swells I note each day, the rise of the sun each morning, and the grains of sand that squeeze my toes when I traipse. I am confident he is always there to answer my prayers even if I am not happy with the first interpretation. I know somewhere down the line the light will shine and the glory will be exposed.
Jesus said, "If you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there' and it will move." (Matthew 17:20) We don't have to believe that the mountain will move; we just need to believe that God will move that mountain. This type of faith requires that we recognize that HE is able to move peaks, volcanoes, and earthquakes as easy as a mustard seed.
Sometimes faith comes easy for more. Each morning I recite my prayers for loved ones and those who requested guidance and intervention from our Lord. Most of the time these are simplistic requests that require little emotion. But there are days that my entire being is swabbed in agony begging for relief. These are the days that require great faith and I must remind myself that patience is the key. I must have the extreme faith that God will answer and take care of my call. These days I must generate a bit for fortitude.
The disciples didn't have this kind of faith at first either! When Jesus healed a boy that they couldn't, they asked him why. He told them, "Because you have so little faith." (Matthew 17:20) He then added, "If you have faith..... nothing will be impossible for you." (verse 20) When they wondered how his simple curse could wither a fig tree, Jesus said, "I tell you the truth, if you have faith and do not doubt, not only can you do what has done to the fig tree, but also you can say to this mountain, 'Go throw yourself into the sea,'and it will be done. If you believe you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer." Matthew 21:21-22) As the disciples faith grew, God began to use them to perform amazing miracles.
But here's where it gets tricky. We often pray for what we want having full faith in that act, and then receive something we weren't ready for. Because of our natural impatience it could be weeks or months until we finally realize this was the best blessing after all! Imagine if we had such immense faith to begin with! Why that first unwelcomed blessing could be actually satisfying knowing full well God has everything in control! This is where we must fine-tune our faith realizing that God has our back after all.
Dear God,
Remind me continually you have everything
under control as I pray. I know you are
trustworthy and always have my best
interest at heart. Help my faith to grow
so that I experience less turmoil as I pray.
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