I tell you the truth, you can say to this mountain, “May you be lifted up and thrown into the sea,” and it will happen. But you must really believe it will happen and have no doubt in your heart. I tell you, you can pray for anything, and if you believe that you’ve received it, it will be yours. But when you are praying, first forgive anyone you are holding a grudge against, so that your Father in heaven will forgive your sins, too. Mark 11:23-25 NLT
Have you ever prayed? Of course you have. Everyone, even those who are not known for their belief, has prayed at some time. Parents almost always pray for their children to someone sometime. Maybe they aren’t even sure who or what God they address, but when their kids have needs or are in danger, prayer is almost unbidden. They may even ask others to pray.
But most of us are much more familiar with prayer. We know things that Jesus said about prayer, and sometimes they encourage us. At other times we aren’t sure what He meant. We may grab hold of the things He said that we really want to believe but debate the meaning of things that aren’t easy to imagine happening.
However, some things Jesus said about prayer are easy to understand and simple to follow. And some of those things are the ones we don’t give much attention. This account in Mark illustrates all of those. Jesus said that we can pray for anything, and it will be ours. We WANT to believe it. That’s what gave birth to the “name it-claim it” version of Christianity that has caused much division and disillusionment in the ranks of earnest Christians,
Then comes the part we debate. You must really believe and have no doubt in your heart. What does that mean, really? Who can define “really believe” and “no doubt”? Jesus granted miracles to people who openly confessed they were having trouble believing, and they had BIG doubts in their hearts. There are endless debates, and the “name it-claim it” people and the “only believe” people have an escape clause when they pray for people, but the healing or answer isn’t received as they prayed. “Somebody sinned” or “somebody didn’t truly believe.”
But the simple instruction is easily overlooked and rarely discussed. When we are praying, Jesus instructs us to FIRST take care of one thing. This before anything else. “When you are praying, FIRST forgive anyone you are holding a grudge against …” He not only says to do that as our first priority, but that it is key to having a forgiving and growing relationship with our Father. Think about it. How much of the lack of satisfaction we often feel from our prayers might have to do with that one more thing? These days of prayer might be the Father’s invitation to put the first thing first and forgive grudges and hurt.
- Do a sincere heart exam. Anything you need to clear first in order to pray well?