Mountain-moving prayers

“Whoever says to this mountain.”

Mk 11:23 NKJV

Does the problem you’re facing seem like a mountain to you? Jesus said: “Assuredly …whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be removed and…cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says. Therefore…whatever things you ask for when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them. And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him, that your Father in heaven may also forgive…your trespasses. But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father…forgive your trespasses.” (vv. 22-26 NKJV). Here Jesus gives us three keys to answered prayer. (1) Keep speaking God’s Word over your problem. “My word…shall not return to Me void, but it shall accomplish what I please, and…prosper in the thing for which I sent it” (Isa 55:11 NKJV). (2) Keep feeding your faith and starving your doubts. “Whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them” (Mk 11: 24 NKJV). (3) Keep forgiving. “Whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him” (v. 25 NKJV). The mountain in your life can’t be removed if you’re harboring unforgiveness. God’s willingness to answer your prayers depends on your willingness to forgive the person who hurt you. So ask yourself: Is it worth holding on to bitterness? Bernard Meltzer says, “When you forgive, you in no way change the past, but you sure do change the future.” Whether or not you think your offender deserves to be forgiven, do it for your own sake—so that the mountain can be moved.

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