When Jesus and His disciples passed by the fig tree that Jesus cursed on the following day, the disciples saw that the fig tree had withered, and they were astonished. Jesus told them, "Have faith in God. I tell you the truth, you can say to this mountain, 'May you be lifted up and thrown into the sea,' and it will happen. But you must really believe it will happen and have no doubt in your heart. I tell you, you can pray for anything, and if you believe that you've received it, it will be yours. But when you are praying, first forgive anyone you are holding a grudge against, so that your Father in Heaven will forgive your sins, too." (Mark 11:20-26)
So many believers have misunderstood the above verses because many false teachers teach that if you have a strong faith in God, you can command anything, and God will do it. They believe that faith itself has its own power apart from the will of God. However, Jesus taught His disciples that faith is always by His will. And if they ask for anything by faith that is according to the will of God, He will grant their request. However, if they are asking by faith and what they are asking is not according to the will of God, God will not grant them their request, no matter how strong their faith is. In other words, it is not by how strong our faith is but by how our faith is in alignment with God's will. Jesus continued to say that our forgiveness towards others is important in how God answers our prayer. If we truly have a strong faith in God, we must show it by forgiving others. If this is difficult for us to do, we can ask God to give us the courage and strength to forgive, and He will help us because this is His will in our lives.
When we ask God for something that we need by faith, and it is according to His will, He will miraculously grant it to us. However, if we ask by faith and it is not according to His perfect will in our lives, He will not grant it because He loves us and He has a better plan for us.
Ask yourself these questions: What does it mean to walk by faith in God? Does God answer my prayer according to His will or my will? What does it mean when God does not grant my prayer, even when I have strong faith in Him?
Write down all the worries you face today and lift them up to God.
Prayer:
Father in Heaven, nothing is impossible to you, for you created everything, but I acknowledge that you always answer my prayers according to your will. With that, I praise and thank you for you know what is best for me. I praise and thank you that you do not grant me the things I ask by faith that are not according to your will. You are my God, and I want to follow your will. In Your name Jesus, I pray. Amen.
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