Mark 11:22-26 And Jesus answered them, “Have faith in God. Truly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, Be taken up and thrown into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says will come to pass, it will be done for him. Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. And whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone, so that your Father also who is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.”

This story is one of the graphic examples of Jesus teaching us how to live by what He did, what He does.  The issue that sets up this amazing promise is Jesus cursing the fig tree the day before because it did not bear any fruit.  Then, in this narrative, the disciples see the dead tree the next day and Jesus gives them this teaching, exhortation and encouragement.

They see how Jesus simple prayer kills the fig tree.  “May no one ever eat fruit from you again.”  Jesus is not being mean to a tree; He is teaching his disciples a lesson about the power of their words.  Jesus gives us this amazing statement about faith in prayer, “Truly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, be taken up and thrown into the sea; and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he say will come to pass, it will be done for him.” What a promise! He then follows up with this next clarity, “Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.”  This amazing promise has always stunned me.  The most important aspect in all this prayer is the heart.  When we know the will of God, we can pray it, we can declare it.  We can join in the work of Heaven’s Kingdom and release the very power and will of our God.  As His children, this is actually our calling.

I want to conclude this encouragement by remembering how it started.  The disciple saw what Jesus did and it stunned them.  They then are exhorted to realize they can do what He did.  When you see what God has done – pray it! When you know what God’s will is, declare it!  You may not be perfect like Jesus, but you are His child and He will partner with you to advance His kingdom.  Pray It! Declare It. Let’s move those mountains.