Ask In Faith // Prayers of Passion Week Devotional

It can be perplexing to think that faith the size of a mustard seed could move a mass as large as a mountain. Let’s face it… there are no small mountains out there. But this is what Christ spoke to his disciples about on the second day of what we refer to as Passion Week. In Mark 11:20, the author begins to roll out a story about Peter recognizing that a fig tree that Christ cursed earlier that day for not bearing fruit (11:12-14) had already withered away. In response, Jesus says to Peter, “Have faith in God.” WAIT… WHAT? You cursed the tree because it didn’t bear fruit, yet you tell us the solution to the whole thing is having faith? I can honestly say that I would have been completely lost at this point and would have had to lean over to another disciple to ask if I were the only one. However, Jesus took this opportunity to teach his students (soon to be friends – John 15:15), what he meant in all of this.

You see…Faith is not just believing but it’s an assured belief; like what we know as trust. Jesus was saying that in order to bear fruit, you must trust that God can provide what is required for you to do so. Whatever may be hindering you from trusting Him is the same thing that is keeping you from producing healthily. To wrap things up, Jesus gives the method to getting the answer and not just the answer to this quiz. ASKING THROUGH PRAYER. “Therefore, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it and it will be yours” (v.24). This doesn’t mean that if you pray for a new house that includes a better looking wife and a brand new car in the garage, that it will be yours. That’s wrong doctrine. Jesus wasn't preaching prosperity in external things but rather prosperity in internal ones. He is telling us that when we aren’t producing fruit because we aren't healthy, we can seek God in prayer to a.) remove whatever may be hindering us from producing it and b.) give us exactly what we need to grow. When he says “believe that you have received it”, He is explaining that just like 2 Peter 1:3 says “His divine power has given us EVERYTHING WE NEED for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness”.
As we walk towards the Sunday that changed it all, examine your faith. Take a look at whether you are producing fruit or if your faith is weak.

Take a few moments to read through Mark chapter 11 and pray as Christ instructed; and the Lord will be faithful with your requests.