40 DAYS - Day 30 - 3.22.21

Love Goes the Distance - Day 30 – Monday, March 22nd – Pastor Chris
Read Mark 11:15-33 and focus on 11:20-26 below
Remember to Pause | Read | Reflect | Listen |Pray | Journal |Practice | Encourage/Share |Fast

Now in the morning, as they passed by, they saw the fig tree dried up from the roots. And Peter, remembering, said to Him, “Rabbi, look! The fig tree which You cursed has withered away.” So Jesus answered and said to them, “Have faith in God. For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says. Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them.
“And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him, that your Father in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses. But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father in heaven forgive your trespasses.” (NKJV)

In the entire passage you read today, three significant movements of prayer are occurring within the text. The first movement is Jesus getting so angry at the denigration and desecration of the Temple that Jesus drives out the culprits, overturning tables and chairs. Prayer is to be used to petition God on behalf of others, not for profitable gain. We must pray with reverence.
The second movement is Jesus teaching the Disciples that when praying, have absolute faith in what you are praying for and to whom you are praying, and do not doubt in your heart. Do not corrupt your prayer, as the religious leaders had done, because their punishment is the end of Israel (Fig Tree) bearing fruit for the Kingdom of God. We must pray in faith.

The third movement is the most troubling yet the most powerful. Jesus encourages the Disciples to pray for others' forgiveness in the same way Jesus will demonstrate on the cross. That is hard for us to pray to forgive others when they have hurt us deeply. Yet, it is one of the most potent acts of praying like Jesus. We must pray like Jesus.

Today, let us make that commitment to pray with reverence, faith, and like Jesus.

Prayer Focus – Today, we will pray for all Christian churches in our nation, around the world, and their leaders as they prepare for Holy Week. Lord, may you bless and grant an increase to their ministries as they reach the country and world for Jesus Christ.