Three days before Jesus’ crucifixion, He was walking back to Jerusalem and the following account is recorded in the Gospel of Matthew:
Now in the morning, as He returned to the city, He was hungry. And seeing a fig tree by the road, He came to it and found nothing on it but leaves, and said to it, “Let no fruit grow on you ever again.” Immediately the fig tree withered away.
And when the disciples saw it, they marveled, saying, “How did the fig tree wither away so soon?” So Jesus answered and said to them, “Assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith and do not doubt, you will not only do what was done to the fig tree, but also if you say to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ it will be done. And whatever things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive.” Matthew 21:18-22
What was Jesus teaching us about prayer in this passage? As I strive to grow in my prayer life, the Lord is allowing me to see the evidence of what it means to pray “believing I will receive whatever things I ask.” From experience, I can tell you what it does NOT mean; that is, that I should pray to become rich, perpetually youthful, or admired by millions. How do I know this?
Because none of these things, in and of themselves, glorify God—and Jesus would not contradict His own Word which repeatedly states that humans are created for God’s glory!
We are not created to be rich. We are not created to be physically beautiful. We are not created to be popular. We are created for God’s glory. All these things are gifts from God and, IF we possess them, they CAN be used for His glory. However, more often, they distract us from God’s glory. They so easily become our gods and our primary reason for living. We are even deluded into thinking that we should pray for more of these physical benefits or a larger public platform so that we can better serve God. I am guilty.
But if we are not serving God with 100% of what we have now—what confidence does He have that we will serve Him with more?
Jesus said:
He who is faithful in what is least is faithful also in much; and he who is unjust in what is least is unjust also in much. Therefore if you have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches? And if you have not been faithful in what is another man’s, who will give you what is your own?
No servant can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon. Luke 16:10-13
No, praying—believing that we will get what we ask for—is not about getting more money or a wider platform of influence. But, from experience, praise God, I can share with you what it DOES look like! When I pray God be glorified and I am perpetually giving Him 100% of the law practice, my time, resources, and ministry—He ALWAYS gives me 100% of what I need to make it happen. I can cite you numerous cases in point, but let me give you an example from a few weeks ago.
Unbeknownst to me, we had a team member whom the Lord was calling to step away from her job with us. It happened very suddenly. It left a huge gap. But, you see, the Lord knew ahead of time this was in the works. Several weeks before I even KNEW this was going to happen, He had another lady reach out to me about a job. At the time she reached out, I didn’t have a job available and had no clue I would have a need. But nearly every day in my prayer time, I dedicate our law practice, GoFaithStrong, and Fostering By Faith to God. I ask Him to protect our team and provide. So—the VERY DAY the one team member unexpectedly left; God provided another. She is eminently qualified for legal work, she loves Jesus, she is humble, she has a great attitude and—our team loves her!
Only God, my friend; only God.
You see, what God is teaching me is that when my heart belongs to Him—meaning HE is in control of my life—then so too, do all my problems belong to Him. He provides in His way and in His timing. I get to SEE Him at work answering my prayers and thus, it is easier and easier for me to pray believing I will receive.
God provides enough to remind me He is taking care of business; but not so much that I forget my desperate need for Him.
Praying—believing we will receive—only engages the power of Almighty God when we live as though He is Lord of our life. The more we develop the attitudes of Christ, the more we see Him answer our prayers. His attitudes develop our prayer life to be within His will. We are in union with God and His thoughts and purpose flow freely through us, suggesting what we should pray for and how to ask. We are led to a point where there is more perfect unity between our mind and God’s mind.
