MondayReflection
29th May 2023
WILL DAVIS says
Faith Opens
the Door to Miracles
Matthew thirteen records what I believe is one of the saddest verses
in the Bible.
Jesus had spent a few frustrating days in his hometown of Nazareth,
and "he did not do many miracles there because of their lack of faith"
(v. 58).
There is an obvious relationship between faith and God's willingness to
work miraculously. The verse doesn't say that
Jesus couldn't do miracles in Nazareth; it says he didn't do miracles there.
It seems that God doesn't feel obligated to work where his power is doubted.
Faith is the key that unlocks the treasury of God's unlimited resources.
It paves the way for the presence and anointing of God.
God is ready and willing to work in miraculous ways wherever faith resides.
Had the people of Nazareth not doubted Jesus, the verse could
just as easily have read,
"Jesus did many miracles there because of their great faith."
Pray for great faith.
Pray that your belief in the presence and power of God would be a conduit
for his supernatural work in and through you.
It never occurred to me to pray for a better prayer life.
Years ago, I travelled to San Antonio to meet with a friend and spiritual mentor.
While we enjoyed a lunch of great Mexican food, we caught up on
each other's lives and ministries.
Later, with full stomachs and warm hearts, we walked out of the restaurant
to say our farewells and head our respective ways.
But my mentor wasn't quite finished with me.
He asked me to join him in his old, beat-up Ford Bronco for a
few moments of prayer.
I gladly complied. Those few moments marked me forever.
My mentor asked God for something I had never heard before.
He prayed that I would love to pray.
He prayed that I would enjoy praying.
He prayed that it would be easy for me to pray.
His words blew me away.
I had never before thought about praying about my prayer life.
But I've been praying about it ever since.
The prophet Isaiah spoke an amazing promise to Gentiles who
embraced the God of Israel: God would bring them to His holy mountain
(a metaphor for His holy presence) and would make them joyful in
His house of prayer.
6 "And the Lord says to those foreigners who become part of his people,
who love him and serve him, who observe the Sabbath and faithfully keep
his covenant:
7 "I will bring you to Zion, my sacred hill, give you joy in my house of prayer,
and accept the sacrifices you offer on my altar.
My Temple will be called a house of prayer for the people of all nations."
.... Isaiah 56:6-7
For many of us, prayer is drudgery, work, and flat-out boring.
Start praying for God to help you love prayer.
Use the language of Isaiah and ask God to make you joyful in
His house of prayer. God will honour your request.
I know, because over the last twenty years He has answered mine.
Maybe you can relate to being stuck.
I mean stuck spiritually, stuck in your relationship with God.
I certainly can relate.
I know what it feels like to have the spiritual doldrums.
When I'm stuck spiritually, I have little or no momentum in my walk
with Jesus.
I know he loves me and that I'm going to heaven, but that's about it.
Some people live years suspended in the Christian life.
They're suspended somewhere between spiritual infancy and becoming
a true disciple of Jesus.
They're stuck, and their faith is suffering because of it.
So, what's the cure for this spiritual rut?
Prayer.
That's right-good, biblical, bended-knee prayer.
Even if you're not good at prayer, even if you feel like you tried prayer and
failed miserably, even if you don't know where or how to start, don't fret.
Prayer is still your answer.
O God, give me a heart of prayer.
Let prayer be easy for me. Help me see it as a joy, not labour,
and a privilege, not a chore.
Precious God, do as Your Word promises.
Make me joyful in Your house of prayer!
Excerpts from 'Pray Big for Your Life',
Guideposts
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