Thoughts for the Day

Jesus said to them, 'Have faith in God. Truly I tell you, if you say to this mountain, “Be taken up and thrown into the sea”, and if you do not doubt in your heart, but believe that what you say will come to pass, it will be done for you. So I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.

Whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone; so that your Father in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses.’

(Lectionary, New Revised Standard Version)

Thoughts

The words "Faith can move mountains" were used by Jesus on a number of occasions, in different circumstances. In modern times these words have also been used to infer that we Christians don't have enough faith. Non-Christians have been known to jeer that we don't have enough belief when God doesn't seem to answer our prayers. But this is not to understand what Jesus is saying.

Until a few years ago shops would put shelves of sweets right by the till where people were paying for their goods, and where there was often a queue. Of course this is the place where bored children have to wait until Mum or Dad have finished, and I remember as a parent of young children the continuous nagging question, "Can I have some sweets!" A number of things would go through my head - we were going home for lunch; they had already had enough sweets that week; and I didn't want to spend any more money! My decision would not be understood by my sons, and I would often end up with a very cross child.

In the same way an answer to prayer can be "No!" even though we may not understand why. When I look back at some of the impassioned prayers that I've sent to God over the years, I'm so very, very glad that He said "No!" I can also see that what often looked like unprofitable answers turned out to be the most worthwhile. So have faith that God knows best, He does answer our prayers, but in His way. So persist in fervent prayer!

Heavenly Father,
increase our faith in You,
and teach us only to ask
for what is best for us
and for others.
Help us to be consistent
in our prayer
and to remember that
You love us as Your children,
so always have our good
in mind.
Amen.