PLEASE READ THIS FIRST: Mark 11:20-26
What do you sense the Lord saying to you in this passage?
“What you ask in prayer, believe you have received it and it will be yours.” (Mark 11:24)
Prayer is not a technique to get something from God; it is a personal relationship.
When we bond with someone in love, we work together and support each other.
If one person moves, the other moves with them; they decide and work together.
Sadly many people look to prayer to make God work for them, for their will.
Jesus is partnering with God in a close way; when He acts, God acts with Him.
His cursing of the fig tree, for example, is a missional warning of love.
He is urging people to repent and receive God’s forgiveness.
Jesus is focused on what God wants and is committed to God’s purpose.
So long as “whatever we ask in prayer” is a kingdom prayer, we can count on God.
He will back us when we join in His kingdom purpose – including forgiveness (v.25).
Too much prayer is about asking for what we want, for God to meet our needs.
In the Lord’s prayer, we pray for daily bread, forgiveness and protection SO THAT…
God’s kingdom may come, His will be done, and His name be glorified.
Consider your own prayers; are these the kinds of prayers God loves to answer?
PRAYER
Lord, grant me everything I need to honour Your Name, to advance Your kingdom, and fulfill Your will!
It’s when I’m facing something – whatever it is – that I have doubt – of myself and could it be that God won’t come through either because of something I did – like the Israelites going to battle without God’s blessing or Joshua or Saul or David – deciding something without consulting with God? I no longer doubt that God will act whether in my favour or not – I’ve learned it is up to me to find out what God wants and the HS’s leading – that’s where prayer is so important! Like Joshua, I must be on the Lord’s side. Help me Lord to overcome my doubt and to walk in confidence especially when I know I am following your will! Lord help me to more faithful in prayer in all that I do – especially before I do it!
And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive them, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins
Lord help me keep your commands. Thank you for saving me and forgiving me, teach me to forgive like you do.
The fig tree was a source of food. A bad fig tree was linked to decay or unfaithfulness. A tree needs to be nourished by the streams of water or the word of the Lord to be fruitful. I too need to be fruitful serving Him as I live for Jesus – faithful, loving, serving, sharing, paring, caring – living for Jesus.
Living for Jesus a life that is true,
Striving to please Him in all that I do;
Yielding allegiance, glad-hearted and free,
This is the pathway of blessing for me.
O Jesus, Lord and Savior,
I give myself to Thee,
For Thou, in Thy [redemption],*
Didst give Thyself for me;
I own no other Master,
My heart shall be Thy throne,
My life I give, henceforth to live,
O Christ, for Thee alone.