Prayer is Key

‘Then Jesus said to the disciples, “Have faith in God. 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. But when you are praying, first forgive anyone you are holding a grudge against, so that your Father in heaven will forgive your sins, too.”’
Mark 11:22-25 (NLT)

These words are spoken in response to the disciples’ astonishment on seeing  that the fig tree Jesus had cursed on the previous day had withered. Jesus’ words to the tree had dramatic effect. Here He is saying to us that our words in prayer can have the same powerful effect!

It sounds so simple -
faith? Yes I believe that nothing is impossible for God.
forgiveness?  Yes, I aim to be quick to forgive even when it hurts and I ask God to search my heart.
BUT I still have many unanswered prayers. Prayers for healing and salvation of dear friends and family. Prayers for an end to war, violence, ethnic cleansing and trafficking; prayers for governments to distribute wealth fairly so hunger and poverty are eliminated; prayers for transformation in society; prayers for all peoples to fear the Lord, Psalm 67.

So I’m asking, God, how can I have more faith, faith like Jesus has? I long to delve much more deeply into the prevailing, prophetic prayer that will release God’s sovereign power into these earthly situations! We are life long learners in the school of prayer - and the Holy Spirit is a wonderful Teacher.

Jesus’ words in this passage are clear and unequivocal. Earlier in Mark’s gospel, Jesus talks about faith to two people who received miracles: the woman who has been bleeding for many years and Jairus, the synagogue leader whose daughter was raised from the dead. To the woman Jesus says, “Daughter your faith has healed you.” v 34.  To the distraught father, “Don’t be afraid. Just have faith.” Mark 5.36. Their kind of faith is what we need!

There was (and is) something so compelling about Jesus’ presence that people believed Him! Authority, compassion, shalom, joy and above all, love flowed from Him - and still do. No wonder crowds were drawn to Him; to be close to Jesus, to sit at his feet, to know Him well, to hang on His every word.

Prayer is key because it is simply staying as close to Him as we can! I love Psalm 73.18 But as for me, how good it is to be near God. Faith increases with knowledge of Him, as we treasure His Word, and fellowship with the Holy Spirit. In adoration, often silent, we catch His thoughts. As we learn to abide in Him (see John 15) we echo the prayers He is praying, and bring glory to Jesus. “You can ask for anything in my name, and I will do it, so that the Son can bring glory to the Father.  Yes, ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it!” John 14.13-14

- Catherine Horton