Asking in Faith

Matthew 21:18-22 (NRSV)

In the morning, when he returned to the city, he was hungry. And seeing a fig tree by the side of the road, he went to it and found nothing at all on it but leaves. Then he said to it, "May no fruit ever come from you again!" And the fig tree withered at once. When the disciples saw it, they were amazed, saying, "How did the fig tree wither at once?" Jesus answered them, "Truly I tell you, if you have faith and do not doubt, not only will you do what has been done to the fig tree, but even if you say to this mountain, 'Be lifted up and thrown into the sea,' it will be done. Whatever you ask for in prayer with faith, you will receive."


As you read this scripture passage, consider the many, many times that you pray.  We pray together every Sunday for the world, the church, and for the joys or concerns of people.  During the week we pray in ways that are formalized (devotional time) and informal (the sigh of the heart, the "Oh, My God..." of moments that leave us speechless.  If you are prone to maintaining a prayer journal, what do you notice about prayers lifted and prayers answered?  How are you when there seems to be no answer to your prayer?  What do you think is meant by "Whatever you ask for in prayer with faith."

Faith moves us to hope for the action of God.  Faith empowers us to pay less attention to our own understanding so that we may receive all of the (often mystifying) components of God's response to our prayer.

Yet, doubt is almost always lurking in the corner, isn't it?

Sometimes I think that our prayers for this or that particular outcome communicate doubt -- doubt that God truly does know all that we know about the situation as well as much, much more than we will ever know.  When I am specific about what I will see as an answer to prayer I may actually be blinding myself to God's answer.

As always, simplicity has much to offer.

Lord, have mercy!   Of course! God's mercy is endless, and freely given.

Lord, forgive me (us).  Of course!  God's forgiveness is readily bestowed through Christ.

Lord, be with me (us/him/her).  Of course!  God has promised to be with us until the end of the ages.