Believe that you have received it.

Mark 11:20-25, As they passed by in the morning, they saw the fig tree withered away to its roots. And Peter remembered and said to him, “Rabbi, look! The fig tree that you cursed has withered.” 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.”

How amazing that this miracle should be used to teach us about the prayer that moves mountains! From an unproductive fig tree that is withered away, seemingly a small thing, yet in the realm of the supernatural, to moving a mountain, the essential ingredient is faith. We have not faith in our own abilities or skills but faith in the one who created the mountain and the fig tree. If faith as a mustard seed can do this, how little is our faith? We must join with those who cried out to Jesus, “Lord, increase our faith!”

We thank you for the gift of faith, to see beyond a doubt what you and the Father are doing and ask without doubting!

ESV Lectionary