How to Have Faith That Moves Mountains

Wouldn't you be surprised if all of your prayers were answered? And that is the problem. Prayer should be as natural as breathing to the children of God.

I read about a woman talking with a friend on the phone. Her young granddaughter came running into the room and stood still to hear her grandmother praying. "Are you talking to God? she asked excitedly. "I need to talk to Him, too!"

Let's take this idea a little further. Answered prayer should be normal for every believer. Really? Then why do we often struggle with a powerless prayer life when our prayer can and should have the power to move mountains?

Matthew 21:18-22 "Early in the morning, as he was on his way back to the city, he was hungry. Seeing a fig tree by the road, he went up to it but found nothing on it except leaves. Then he said to it, 'May you never bear fruit again!' Immediately the tree withered. When the disciples saw this, they were amazed. 'How did the fig tree wither so quickly?' they asked. Jesus replied, 'I tell you the truth, if you have faith and do not doubt, not only can you do what was done to the fig tree, but also you can say to this mountain, 'Go, throw yourself into the sea,' and it will be done. If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer'"

The Bible tells us we can be confident that our prayers will be heard and answered. Our prayers are more than wishes and hopes or desires and feeble aspirations - if we pray in faith. When we pray in faith, that prayer really can move mountains.

How do I find mountain-moving faith?

Hebrews 11:1 "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen."

This verse carries the idea of persuasion or having confidence and a conviction in response to unseen evidence. Faith often demands that we give up what we can see for what we cannot see, exchanging the known for the unknown.

I love a good plan and always want to know every detail of that plan. So, I'm not big on the unknown or the unseen. But I have learned that just because I can't always see what God is doing doesn't mean he is not at work in and around my life.

The minister's son came in from playing outside. His mom looked at his filthy hands and said, "Please go wash your hands, son," the little boy wanted to know why. "That dirt is filled with germs!" she replied. The frustrated little boy said, "Germs and Jesus! That's all I ever hear, and I've never seen either one."

Genuine faith takes us as far as we can see, and when we get there, faith promises that we'll be able to see farther.

Faith believes God is who He says He is.

Hebrews 11:6 "And without faith, it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him."

Faith is a fruit of intimacy with God. Faith is a natural response to the nature and personality of God. The more we know God, the more we understand who he is. Faith is knowing and believing God is who he says he is.

Faith believes God is able.

Ephesians 3:20 "Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us."

We serve a mighty God. We believe that truth with our heads, but it can't change anything until we believe it in our hearts. When our hearts aren't persuaded, we don't pray. We don't believe God can or will do anything about our requests. The Israelite warriors felt the same way.

These mighty warriors are standing on a hill overlooking a battlefield. The Philistine champion Goliath swaggers out to frighten them. He's nine feet tall, dressed in armor, and carrying a spear. The warriors said, "We're not stupid! We are not going to fight him!" Young David looked at the giant and said, "I'll fight him!" The warriors responded, "Are you crazy? Look at the size of him!" David said, "Are you crazy? Look at the size of my God!" Now that is faith!

God has not changed! He is just as powerful today as he was in the beginning. God was able then, and God is able today - able to answer our prayer.

Hebrews 13:8 "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever."

Faith believes God is willing.

Matthew 7:7-11 "Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened. Which of you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!"

In this passage, Jesus is teaching about prayer and the very nature of God. He relates it to something we all can understand - the parent-child relationship. The young son had been out in the fields, working all day. Like every teenage boy, he was always hungry – especially after a long day working. His family had already started eating when he walked in the door. The smell was delicious – he could hardly wait to dig in. But his father had different plans. Tossing his son a rock, the father said, "Here! Eat this!" Unbelievable! As you can tell, I have a real problem with this dad's attitude.

I remember our son coming home from a long day at school and hours of football practice. He was always starved! He often had one or more friends with him, and yes, they were all starved. So I planned and prepared hot, steaming dishes of food for these boys - and loved every minute of doing it. In fact, I delighted in feeding those boys all they could eat - and they could eat a lot!

Jesus has the same attitude towards us – his children. He delights in giving us good gifts because he is a good, good Father. Giving is his specialty!

Our daughter and I were shopping one day. I needed some clothes and wanted to buy her a special outfit for her first day of school. I had a certain amount of money to spend - and then I saw the perfect outfit for Danna. I could see the excitement in her eyes. But then she saw the price tag, and her face fell in disappointment. Of course, it was more than I planned to spend. Buying that outfit would mean not buying any clothes for myself. It wasn't even a choice, and she looked amazing on that first day of school.

If this is true of earthly parents, imagine what our Heavenly Parent wants to give us. Nothing in the universe would keep him from giving you his full attention when you pray!

Don't believe the lies of the enemy. He wants you to think you have to do something to earn the blessings of God. He wants you to believe you are not good enough to be blessed. After all, God has his favorites, doesn't he? All lies!

God created you in response to his plan. The plan came first! In love, God chose you for his very own. You belong to him, and no one can take your place in the heart and mind of God. That is why you can pray, believing by faith that he hears and will answer your prayers. Remember, it is God's very nature to give to his children. We need to be connected to him in faith and then be willing to step out in that faith. Don't rely upon your feelings. Rely upon the facts of God's word.

God can answer our prayer. God wants to answer our prayer. Faith comes when we believe these truths and step out in obedience. Faith comes as we go!

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