Wednesday February 15th, 2023
Meditate on: Psalms 125:1 NLT
« Those who trust in the LORD are as secure as Mount Zion; they will not be defeated but will endure forever. »
Read:
Mark 11:12-14 NIV
12 The next day as they were leaving Bethany, Jesus was hungry.
13 Seeing in the distance a fig tree in leaf, he went to find out if it had any fruits. When He reached it, He found nothing but leaves, because it was not the season for figs.
14 Then Jesus said to the tree, “May no one ever eat fruit from you again”. And his disciples heard Him say it.
20 The next morning, as they passed by, they saw the fig tree dried up from the roots.
21 And Peter remembered said ton Jesus, “Master, look! , the fig tree you cursed is withered away”.
22 And Jesus answered and said to him, “Have faith in God,
23 Truly I tell you, if anyone says to this mountain, “throw yourself in the sea, and does not doubt in their heart but believes that what they will happen.
24 Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask in prayer, believe that you receive it, and it will be yours.
Understand:
Today’s Bible reading narrates a story that demonstrates faith in action and teaches what faith can do for those who live by it.
Having declared to us in Habakkuk 2:4 that
« The just shall live by his faith »
our Lord’s primary purpose in cursing the fig tree was to show us what living by faith really looks like. That was why the first statement Jesus made after Peter drew His attention to the withered fig tree was
« Have faith in God »
Jesus further went on to say in Mark 11:23:
« Truly I tell you, if anyone says to this mountain, ‘throw yourself in the sea’, and does not doubt in their heart but believes that what they will happen. »
Living by faith simply means to have faith (to trust) in God’s power and in His faithfulness to perform whatever He has promised.
If we have faith in God, we should have the confidence to ask Him whatever we desire in the place of prayer.
The Lord has told us that this is the pathway to receive our heart’s desires (Mark 11:24). If we have faith in God, we should also be confident to make declarations based on his word.
We demonstrate our faith by the confessions of our mouths.
Psalm 116:10a says:
« I believed, therefore I speak »
Our Lord expects us to declare what we believe to the mountains that challenge the integrity of His word in our lives, instead of crying to him about them. That is what living by faith is all about.
A lot of us do not want to develop our walk with God; we just want to remain at the level of babes, who expect everything to be done for them instead of taking charge. No wonder the Lord asked this question in Luke 18:8, saying:
« Nevertheless when the Son of man comes, will He find faith on the earth? »
It is one thing to pray and another thing to believe in practical terms that God will do what you are asking for.
The story was told of a priest who called for a prayer meeting one Sunday afternoon concerning the challenge of drought in a particular town. After the congregation had gathered for the meeting, the priest looked around and said, “Brethren, you are not ready to pray.” The parishioners wondered, “What do you mean? That is what we have come to do.” He then asked them, “What have you come to do?” they chorused, “To pray for rain to fall!” he then asked them, “Where are your umbrella and raincoats? If you believe that God will answer the prayer you have come to say, you should have brought your umbrella and raincoats!” They went back home and brought their umbrellas and raincoats, and God honored their faith. What a lesson of faith!
Beloved, have faith in God.
Application: Take practical steps to demonstrate that you believe your prayers to God are being answered.
Author: Pst E. A. Adeboye.
Edited by Naomie
Freely you received, freely you must give (Math 10:8) , kindly share this devotion, and the Lord will bless you for it ♥
