READING: John 12:37-50, Mark 11:12-14, Matthew 21:18-22, Mark 11:15-19, Matthew 21:12-17, Luke 19:45-48, Mark 11:20-33, Matthew 21:23-27, Luke 20:1-8
I believe strongly in prayer, and I’ve seen God do some mighty things on the wings of the prayers of His people. That doesn’t mean, though, that I never need reminders of what God-centered prayer can accomplish.
In the midst of teaching His disciples through judging the fig tree (symbolizing judgment on barren Israel), Jesus told them again that prayer matters: “Truly, I say to you, if you have faith and do not doubt, you will not only do what has been done to the fig tree, but even if you say to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and thrown into the sea,’ it will happen. And whatever you ask in prayer, you will receive, if you have faith” (Matt 21:21-22). God simply chooses to work through prayer—including doing what seems impossible.
There is no magical power in prayer, however, that gives us whatever we want. We must pray according to the heart of God, asking according to His will (1 John 5:14), seeking with proper motives (Jms 4:3), and trusting Him without doubt. It is not the depth and breadth of our faith itself that produces answered prayer; it is sincere, non-wavering faith in the One who can do all things.
PERSONAL REFLECTION: Do you pray in faith?
DAILY PRAYER: “God, renew my faith as I pray today.”
TOMORROW’S READING: Matthew 21:28-32, Mark 12:1-12, Matthew 21:33-46, Luke 20:9-19, Matthew 22:15-22, Luke 20:20-26, Mark 12:18-27, Matthew 22:23-33, Luke 20:27-40