In Mark chapter 11, Jesus spoke:
22 So Jesus answered and said to them, “Have faith in God.
23 For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be 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.
24 Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them.”
I find that people place subtle restrictions on FATHER’S ability and willingness to perform HIS Word. In fact, they look for reasons HIS Word will not work in their lives rather than look for reasons why The Word will work on their behalf. Their mind and its logic controls the narrative rather than their heart. Often what a man cannot understand is placed in the category of “the impossible” thus there are many promises from FATHER that remain dormant in the personal lives of most people.
Doubt and unbelief are the enemies of having faith in FATHER. We must develop our spiritual eyes and ears more so than our intellect and logic. Nothing is wrong with intense study but if we have overdeveloped minds and underdeveloped spirits then we will trust our minds more than our spiritual senses and that is when doubt and unbelief prevail. Our minds by definition are restricted to what we have exposed them to through our own endeavors. Our spirits have access to the realm without any such limitations where FATHER resides but this realm is well-protected from soulish, selfish exploitations.
In the above passage, Jesus focused on what is in our heart rather than our mind when He placed the condition “ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes”. The focus must be on the condition of our heart. The world would have us spend our formative years receiving an education and strengthening our mind without regard to strengthening our heart. As a result we have young adults who have become self-centered in their thinking rather than self-sacrificing for the benefit of others. Parents have allowed prayer to be removed from school and now we must deploy metal detectors and police to protect the children at school. Once the Spiritual standard of the LORD’S Prayer was removed, children were left to their own immature devices and lawlessness grew in that environment.
Exercising our spiritual life should be as important as exercising our minds and bodies. The above passage is based on the assumption that you are praying to FATHER and in constant communication. Many people want to use the above passage only in times of emergencies and otherwise be left alone to pursue their worldly activities. Jesus gave us an expressed promise but also gave us expressed requirements for success. These requirements are not limited to those with high IQ’s. Success is not based on unique characteristics only found among the privileged. They are based on willingness to be led by THE SPIRIT rather than our limited mind. We must purpose to strengthen our heart as much as we do other aspects of our lives.
If HIS Word isn’t working in our life, we must assume that we are the issue, not HIM. If I am not producing fruit in a particular area it is because I am void of revelation in that area. There is something amiss and I must change. I believe our willingness to change determines our spiritual success and maturity. I look back at doctrines I held in past decades only to find they were wrong and produced no fruit. We must admit our past failures, bury them, then get on with life. We must not let pride get in the way. We must simply repent before FATHER and be grateful HE opened our eyes to the limitations we placed on HIM in the past.
Confessing HIS Word alone does not produce anything for we must believe HIS Word first. We must approach FATHER without preconceived notions and come into HIS Presence with innocent perception as well as an expectation of receiving a fresh, appropriate Word for our lives today. There are no insurmountable mountains which cannot be overcome by faith IN HIM. We must not allow our minds to convince us otherwise. Our mind would have us seek some subtle formula hidden in Scripture from the masses as though FATHER is hesitant to allow us to find success. The Pharisees had full access to all Scripture yet they could not recognize the Messiah standing before them. Go figure!
In Matthew chapter 20, Jesus spoke:
20 So Jesus said to them, “Because of your unbelief; for assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you.
21 However, this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting.”
The more time we spend with FATHER, the less limitations exist in our lives. Dwell on this Truth today. If need be, wipe the slate clean and start over. Come to HIM with a pure heart and no agenda. Let FATHER minster what is on HIS Heart which happens to be our wellbeing. Our Loving FATHER only wants what is best for us so let our faith be strong IN HIM and HE will remove whatever mountains stand in our way.