Daily Devotion - May 4, 2023

The disciples came to Jesus privately and said, “Why could we not cast it [a demon] out?” He said to them, “Because of your little faith. For truly, I say to you, if you have faith like a grain of mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move, and nothing will be impossible for you.” (Matt. 17:19-21)

An old story tells of two widows living together in a cottage at the foot of a mountain. Soaking rains loosened the soil on the mountain’s slope, and a huge boulder threatened to roll onto their home. So, the women prayed that God would anchor the stone. But – the rain continued, the stone rolled, and crushed the house, prompting one of the women to say, “I knew prayer wouldn’t work.”

Well, of course, doubting prayer doesn’t work, but what is believing prayer? Are we supposed to imagine that our desires are God’s commands – that we are as wise as God about what should happen to shape his eternal plans? 

True faith is never rooted in our designs, but in our God – his power, wisdom, and love. Nothing is impossible for him, not even working beyond our prayers to fulfill his plans. Pray, believing that God can move mountains, anchor stones, and melt hearts of stone by earth’s blessings or trials.

Through such believing prayers, God will do even more than we can ask or imagine to accomplish his will on earth as he intends in heaven. When we pray, “Heavenly Father, I believe in your wisdom, power and love to accomplish what is absolutely best,” then we will be most blest. Trust the God of grace to be better than your prayers. 

Prayer: Lord, help me to pray, and to trust you more than my prayers. Do on earth what is best for eternity.