The Mountains Will Move

The Mountains Will Move Devotional Reading and Podcast

“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.'” –Mark 11:22-23

As we read Mark 11, verses 22 and 23, Jesus tells us that when we face the mountains of adversity, our steadfast faith is the gateway for God to manifest His power in our lives. Contrary to popular belief, even with unwavering faith, humanity does not have the power to manifest miracles or remove our trials and sorrows.

For example, we may face the mountain of a severe illness, yet, we cannot command our bodies to be healed. God’s response is activated by the human effort of praying a prayer of faith asking for healing. “And the prayer offered in faith will restore the one who is sick. The Lord will raise him up. If he has sinned, he will be forgiven” (James 5:15).

Jesus created us, so He is aware of our frailities, and the fact that most of us are easily overwhelmed when facing the mountains of adversity. Thankfully, our all-knowing Father anticipated that we could do nothing without Him. So, He generously gave us spiritual gifts at the onset of our journey of life.

Our gifts never achieve growth unless we use our human effort to believe and trust in God. Each day approach God when you awaken with a prayer asking for wisdom and an increase of faith. Personal worship builds our love, trust, and confidence in God. In Psalm 34, David testifies that from our prayers, God initiates His Divine Intervention to deliver the righteous from their many troubles.

We greatly benefit from doing our part to strengthen our relationship. When our first response to challenges is to pray and wait on the Lord, our faith and trust in God gives us assurance in His power and we confidently live by faith.

Spiritual Gifts: “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.” (2 Timothy 1:7).

Sound Mind and a Measure of Faith: “For through the grace given to me, I say to everyone among you not to think more highly of himself than he ought to think; but to think so as to have sound judgment, as God has allotted to each a measure of faith.” Romans 12:3

Our spiritual gifts cannot remain dormant. It is impossible for a believer to be faithless. We require continuous spiritual growth and development which is only achieved by staying connected to the vine, Jesus Christ. Our journey of traveling on the Path of Righteousness has a spiritual purpose [which includes suffering], to build our faith, trust, obedience, confidence, and courage in God.

Pray: We grow by communicating with Christ through prayer and diligent study of the Scriptures. The apostle Paul admonishes us to pray without ceasing every day. Developing a habit of prayer gives us the faith and courage to rely on God through every season of life. Through prayer, God has given us access to the spiritual help and reinforcement we need to live righteously.

Study: The Scriptures are from the Voice of God. We also learn of His character and promises that reinforce our faith. The prophet Hosea relays God’s warning to us, “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge.” The importance of studying the Bible is defined by King David, “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path” (Psalm 119:105).

As believers, we never graduate from our status as Bible students. Yes, we gain knowledge and wisdom from the consistent study of the Scriptures, but our love relationship with Christ grows stronger from studying God’s love letter to us. The Holy Spirit brings comfort in times of distress by reminding us of God’s promises which require us to memorize Scriptures. If I know that God says, when I pass through the waters that He will be with me, then my outlook is not hopeless.

Pray throughout the day to receive the anointing and empowerment from the Holy Spirit, which is necessary to experience spiritual growth. “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such, there is no law” (Galatians 5:22-23).

The faith that can speak to the mountains and move them is built on a foundation of love for God.

“Jesus said to him, ‘You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.'” (Matthew 22:37).

Love is the foundation of our relationship with Christ. From loving Christ we receive His strength and the power to overcome. “I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength” (Philippians 4:13). Sanctification is the daily spiritual transformation of our character changing into the likeness of Christ.

From a heart filled with an unwavering love for God flows humility and the desire to obey. For our dedication, we receive the Divine strength of Christ which empowers us to speak in faith to the mountain. With courage and perseverance, we live to do our Father’s will.

In His short time on earth, Jesus lived the struggle of humanity. He faced many mountains–who can imagine fasting for 40 days and nights in the wilderness and enduring rejection from those with hateful hearts up until the moment of His death on Calvary? Yet, Jesus tells us, “I have overcome the world!” Through our Lord and Savior, we can also live as overcomers.

Human effort is required to move mountains: “…But the just shall live by his faith.” (Habakkuk 2:4, NKJV).

Prayer: God, we pray for the steadfast faith to speak to our mountains and through Your mighty power they are removed. In Jesus’ Name, we pray. Amen.