Frustrated. Anxious. Worried. Unable to concentrate on anything else. Your mind working overtime trying to come up with a plan or a solution for seemingly unmovable problems. These are things I have personally experienced. I know I am not the only person who has been there.
Little Me
I consider myself to be a person of faith. I have an active relationship with God. I believe in His ability to do great and mighty things. Yet I can have great faith for everyone else, and then sometimes be confronted with a weaker faith for my own life. I thought today about the times in my life when I had situations that seemed like actual mountains staring me in the face. I felt so small in comparison to those mountains. At times, even helpless. In those moments the truth was that I was little, but my focus was on the wrong thing, all of my inabilities.
For verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you. Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting
Matthew 17:20-21
A Strategy that Works
It is awesome when we can speak to those mountains and they move right away. Sometimes they don’t. Sometimes those stubborn problems require a different approach. I have always viewed this verse with the application that if I have been praying and fasting I sort of grow and collect more faith that when I face that mountain again I can speak to it and it will move this time. I read this verse with a little different insight today. What if by daily prayer my faith is chipping away at that mountain. What if it is like laying the axe to a stubborn tree trunk, and because of that diligent effort in prayer that after so many times it has to fall.
BIG GOD
Worry and anxiety enter when I forget who is in charge of the outcome. It’s not me. It’s my BIG GOD. I can grow that tiny seed of faith as I daily lay the axe of prayer to those problems. Prayer was made to be answered. It is why we are reminded to in Philippians 4:6 not to be anxious but to pray about everything.
What Mountains are You Facing?
What are the situations that have you overwhelmed and feeling small? I would like to challenge you to take a different approach. I am a big believer in praying the Word of God. Frankly, sometimes I don’t always know what to pray, especially when I need to quiet my own heart. When we pray the Word of God we get into agreement with what He says about it.
Lay the axe of prayer daily to the mountains in your life. Find some scriptures that relate to what you are facing.
- Finances– God will take care of all of my needs.
But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:19 - Troubled Heart or Mind– I will not live in worry or fear.
For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. 2 Timothy 1:7
Write Some Faith Statements
What we put in front of our eyes is powerful. Write some faith statements about what you need to see move in your life. They don’t have to be impressive, but intentional.
- I believe my marriage is getting better.
- I believe that God is going to bless me with a great job.
- I believe that I will have better communication with my family.
- I believe that God will meet my financial needs.
- I believe God for wisdom for the decisions I have in front of me.
See the principle at work here? God becomes responsible for the outcome.
Even if it is a little me, and a little you… we serve a BIG GOD!