How to approach prayer can be simple or we can often overthink it as well and it can seem complicated. There is not some magic formula by which we control God’s power without Him. He is still in control. However, He does encourage us in how to pray.
In Mark 11, Jesus emphasizes the importance of us believing we have received what we pray and ask for. This is important. However, also remember, Jesus prayed for the cup of suffering to be taken from Him in the Garden of Gethsemane and God did not grant Him that prayer. Sometimes the answer may still be “no”.
However, we should still heed the instruction Jesus gives in Mark 11 to believe in what we pray for, that it has been given to us.
11Jesus entered Jerusalem and came into the temple; and after looking around at everything, He left for Bethany with the twelve, since it was already late.
12On the next day, when they had left Bethany, He became hungry. 13Seeing at a distance a fig tree in leaf, He went to see if perhaps He would find anything on it; and when He came to it, He found nothing but leaves, for it was not the season for figs. 14He said to it, “May no one ever eat fruit from you again!” And His disciples were listening.
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19When evening came, they would go out of the city.
20As they were passing by in the morning, they saw the fig tree withered from the roots up. 21Being reminded, Peter said to Him, “Rabbi, look, the fig tree which You cursed has withered.” 22And Jesus answered saying to them, “Have faith in God. 23“Truly I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says is going to happen, it will be granted him. 24“Therefore I say to you, all things for which you pray and ask, believe that you have received them, and they will be granted you. 25“Whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone, so that your Father who is in heaven will also forgive you your transgressions. 26[“But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father who is in heaven forgive your transgressions.”]
We don’t have to fully understand everything that may appear to have some contradiction in order to obey God’s instructions. Walk in faith even if you don’t fully understand it. Ask God to help you to believe you have received what you ask for in prayer.
Also, don’t overlook the emphasis Jesus puts on forgiveness when we pray in verses 25-26.
I invite you to pray with me:
Father, thank you for your hand of blessing and for answering my prayers. Help me in any unbelief I may be struggling. Help me to believe you will deliver those things for which I pray and ask. Amen.
Shalom
Devotion by John in service to Christ
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