Mark 11:22-26

"Jesus answered, "Have faith in God. I tell you the truth, you can say to this mountain, 'Go, fall into the sea.' And if you have no doubts in your mind and believe that what you say will happen, God will do it for you. So I tell you to believe that you have received the things you ask for in prayer, and God will give them to you. When you are praying, if you are angry with someone, forgive him so that your Father in heaven will also forgive your sins. But if you don't forgive other people, then your Father in heaven will not forgive your sins" (NCV).


Deep rooted faith that moves mountains, does that describe my faith in Him?

Jesus was telling His followers this after they witnessed Him dry up a fig tree that did not produce fruit. Jesus had been hungry and when He approached the fig tree He was looking for it's fruit to eat. God's word tells us, "Seeing a fig tree in leaf from far away, he went to see if it had any figs on it. But he found no figs, only leaves, because it was not the right season for figs. So Jesus said to the tree, 'May no one ever eat fruit from you again.' And his followers made note of this." Mark 11:12-14

Then the next morning as Jesus and His followers passed the tree again, they noticed the tree had dried up and was dead to the roots. Peter even exclaimed to Him, "Teacher, look! The fig tree you cursed is dry and dead!" (Mark 11:21 NCV)

I believe this one story is in God's word to remind us of that deep trusting, unswerving, faith that can indeed move mountains. We seem to loose sight of this when life starts pressing in and we feel overwhelmed by it all. Satan's job is to replace that strong trusting faith...with doubt and despair. Let me remind you that God gives us the tools to keep this from happening.

Do you not see that Jesus was walking in to Jerusalem for His final days? Shouldn't He have been experiencing doubt and despair? The leaders were about to take His life. But, what Jesus continually did was to never loose sight of the mission He was on. He came to save the world..He came to serve us...when we didn't even believe He could!

I read this story today in my study Bible...it was a good example of faith in believing and trusting God to do what He says He can do.

The story is told about the time Napoleon's steed got away from him. An alert private jumped on his own horse and chased down the general's horse. When he presented the reins of the animal to Napoleon, the ruler took them, smiled at his willing private, and said, "Thank you, Captain."

The soldier's eyes widened at what he had heard. He then straightened. Saluted. And Snapped, "Thank you, sir!"

He immediately went to the barracks. Got his bags. Moved into the officers quarters. Took his uniform to the quartermaster and exchanged it for that of a captain. By the general's word, he had become a private-turned-commissioned officer. He didn't argue. He didn't shrug. He didn't doubt. He knew that one who had the power to do it had done it. And he accepted that.

If only we would have the faith of this private...If only, when God smiles and says we are saved, we'd salute him, and live like those who have just received a gift from the commander in chief. (From In the Eye of the Storm by Max Lucado)

I ask you, do you have a regular prayer time when you tell God both your troubles and joys? Jesus gave us these examples all through His ministry here on earth. He continually stopped and went off to pray and to seek God direction for His mission.

"I have chosen the way of truth; I have set my heart on Your laws. I hold fast to your statues, O Lord; do not let me be put to shame. I run in the path of your commands, for you have set my heart free" Psalm 119 30-32 NIV).

If we would just believe He can move those mountains for us...if we would just trust in His word knowing it as His Truths. For me, I want to "run in the path of His commands"...because it is there that I find true freedom! It is there I can move mountains!

Mama Barb