Praying Correctly

Mark 11:23-24

“Truly I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says is going to happen, it shall be granted him. Therefore I say to you, all things for which you pray and ask, believe that you have receive them, and they shall be granted you.”


Observation:
This is one of those passages in Scripture that is misused very often. Some people have taken these verses to indulge their selfish dreams and ambitions under the “blessing” of God. I’ve seen people asking God vehemently for houses, cars, money, positions of influence, and more under the words of this passage. They don’t doubt in their hearts. They truly believe that what they say is going to happen. And when things don’t come as they ask, they either blame God for being negligent or blame themselves for not having enough faith.
Perhaps we miss the correct application of these verses. In the context of this passage Jesus has cursed a fig tree because it had leaves but no fruit on it. The next day the tree withered. The interesting thing about it is that at that specific season, fig trees are not supposed to give fruit (v. 13). It seams unreasonable from Jesus to demand fruit out of season. The key to understand these verses about prayer and faith is to interpret correctly the illustration of the fig tree. Remember the servant that had one talent? His excuse for being unfruitful was fear because the Lord demands fruit out of season. The Pharisees that came to test Jesus’ authority were just like that fig tree. They had leaves but no fruit. Leaves on a tree are a sign of life, but fruit is the evidence of life. Hungry people will be looking for leaved trees and they will direct themselves towards them. But if there is no fruit, hungry people get frustrated and disappointed. Having leaves without fruit deceives people. Jesus expected fruit in that tree because it displayed leaves. And when He came and found no fruit on it, He cursed it.


Application:
Faith is the only way to bring forth fruit in our lives. As long as we stay alive on earth, the flesh will be hanging with us. Our flesh cannot bring forth the fruit of the Spirit of God. But with faith, God’s word upon us becomes powerful. If we lack wisdom, or kindness, or self-control, and we pray God to receive them believing that what we ask will become true, then we will be able to enjoy those blessings. Jesus wants our prayers to be focused on the fruit, not on the leaves.
When we only are concerned for having leaves in our lives but no fruit, then our prayer life is going to be very frustrating. Prayers that focus on the eaves are like this, “Jesus give me a new job, give me more money to pay my debts, give me a better house to live.” All these are meaningful needs and we must pray that God will direct our lives. But every time we emphasize leaves above fruit in our prayers, it doesn’t matter how much faith we put on, it is not going to happen the way we want. But if our requests are focused on the spiritual fruit, then we will be asking God in faith to work miracles in our flesh. Having God’s wisdom operating in my flesh is a miracle. Having self-control of my lustful desires is a miracle. Having patience and peace in the midst of a painful sickness or a troublesome trial is a miracle. Having kindness and forgiveness when we are offended and abused is a miracle. When we pray for the fruit of the Spirit to abound in our lives, and when we ask believing that we will receive it, then we will be able to move mountains. And when the Lord Jesus comes to check on His dwelling place in us, He will find the fruit that He expects. The beauty about it is that when we pray focused on spiritual fruitfulness, the leaves come alongside. God wants us to display leaves, but more than anything He wants us to be fruitful. This perspective will make our prayers powerful and will prepare the stage for the miraculous in our lives.


PRAYER: Dear Jesus, please forgive me for being more concerned in my prayers in worldly commodities than in my character. Please help me to focus in my spiritual fruitfulness and make me more like you. I know that you can take good care of my earthly needs. I have faith in you. Please teach me to pray with such perspective and use me to release the miraculous in my life and around me. AMEN!