Does this not sound like one of the greatest promises in all of scripture! Jesus speaks this encouragement to His disciples, even sharing the example of a mountain being lifted up and thrown into the sea as a result of a prayer of faith! This was spoken at a specific time to a specific people, but does it apply to us as His followers today?
What's your track record of prayer look like? I can think of heartfelt prayers with unwavering faith without the expected answers I had longed to receive. Some are quick to blame the results on lack of faith. "If I only believed more, God would have met my desire." The sad thing about that response is that it puts all the weight of the outcome on the one coming to God in prayer. Basically they are saying, I'm in this mess right now because I didn't have enough faith. I'll tell you, hearing that crushes, and does nothing to encourage the one who is already confused and struggling. They may have believed with every ounce of faith they had, yet the tumor was malignant, all their study resulted in failure, the relationship ended, and the promotion was given to someone else.
How are we going to handle this verse? Words like "anything" and "receive" really make it sound like asking equals getting. This text partnered with Matthew 19:26 reassures us that with God everything is possible so we know that absolutely nothing is too hard for the Lord.
As Christ-followers we understand that when we come to God in prayer, we are to pray according to His word and His will. We can't emphasize His power and ability apart from His purposes. We have to marry this scripture with Jesus' prayer before His crucifixion. Knowing His Father was more than able to make "this cup pass" from Him, He didn't hesitate to ask, but then in complete submission, surrendered to, "yet not My will, but Yours be done." (Luke 22:42) Part of asking in faith involves assenting to God's plan as best.
As Jesus instructed Peter in Matthew 16:23, too often our prayers are clouded by a human point of view. Things aren't always as they seem at face value. We don't always necessarily know the will of God concerning a request we are bringing before Him. There is no problem in asking in faith, but we must trust our loving heavenly Father with His answer. God is not a genie in a bottle waiting to grant our every wish. In His wisdom, love, knowledge, sovereignty and goodness His answers are meant to draw us closer to Him and for His eternal glory. Sometimes the things that glorify God most will humble us.
Come, cry out to the Lord. Ask in faith. Pray according to His will, surrendering to His way. Then trust in His infinite perspective and unfailing love. Be confident. He truly is working all together for our good. Oh to get to that place where the answer isn't the issue, but deepening our relationship with the Lord initiates every prayer. May we be found praising and thanking the Lord through every season as we experience His goodness, faithfulness and love.
1 comment:
From Robyn🌺 I’m amazed that your comments this day dealt with the very topics I’ve been pondering the last two days. the quote from Lina‘s book is something I’ve always wanted to paint. it would be great to paint a picture of two children. One child would be looking with dazzled eyes at the sparkling gems and gifts before her. The other child would be looking up with light in her eyes as she gazed upon the gift-giver, God himself. In Lina‘s quote she emphasizes the giver himself, and that his presence is always with us whether our request in prayer is met or not. This morning I was pondering Matthew 16, when Peter is rebuked by Jesus for not having the concerns of God in his heart, but rather human concerns. And the third aspect you touched on has to do with IJohn 5:14 “this is the assurance we have in approaching God, that if we ask anything in accordance with his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have what we have asked of Him.” So putting all three aspects together around this verse of prayer and faith that you pondered this morning means: praying in adoration of the giver himself, asking for his will to be done and his concerns to be met then asking that He would show us the difference between human concern, and God‘s concerns. Thanks, Joy for your prayerful teaching!
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