Mark 11:22-24, Psalm 121:1, Exodus 17:15, John 14:6

Glyn Barrett exhorts us to take our eyes off our circumstances and put them on to God.

Glyn Barrett

'"Have faith in God," Jesus answered. "I tell you the truth, if anyone says to this mountain, 'Go, throw yourself into the sea,' and does not doubt in his heart but believes that what he says will happen, it will be done for him. Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours."' (Mark 11:22-24)

Faith often seems mysterious, surreal, ethereal and complicated, but once you realise that faith is primarily not FOR something but IN someone, it makes it more achievable!

In Mark 11:22-24, Jesus is not saying, "Have faith in your powerful words, holy living and ability to command a deep voice when speaking to the mountain!" He simply says "Have faith in God."

Most of us reading this will have a mountain in the way of something we would like to achieve, or feel God calling us to do. If you have fallen into the trap of FAITH FOR living, then that mountain can at times become your sole focus. If you are not careful, you can begin to obsess over that mountain until it blocks your view of God.

1. Focus on God, not the mountain

Faith to see the mountain moved starts in having FAITH IN God. He is the mountain mover, not you. He is the one who can remove any obstacle, not faith itself! Maybe today, a good way to refocus your attention, will be to take your eyes OFF the mountain and place them on God. Or as the Psalmist says, "I lift up my eyes to the hills, where does my help come from, my help comes from the LORD, the maker of heaven and earth. (Psalm 121:1)

2. Resign as CEO of the universe

When you are up against the mountain, there is often a strong desire within us to fix the situation. But when you choose to have FAITH IN God, you are acknowledging His desire and ability to fight for you.

In Exodus 17:15, God is known as Jehovah Nissi, the Lord our Banner. Centuries ago, soldiers would march into battle behind a banner/flag. The banner would show the enemy in whose name and under whose authority they were fighting the battle. The name Jehovah Nissi is one step more than this though. This name for God is your acknowledgement that He will fight battles for you. So when Jesus says, "Have faith in God," He is acknowledging the Jehovah Nissi who will do the mountain moving on your behalf.

To have faith in God means that you need to tender your resignation. Your resignation should read like this, "I RESIGN AS CEO OF THE UNIVERSE!" This is tough because it means we recognise that some things are out of our control, but it is good to know that anything out of our control is never out of God's control!

I wonder in what area of your life you need to tender your resignation? Have faith in God.

3. You have the authority

Jesus would often say, "I tell you the truth." Jesus, of course, could not say anything else, because He "is the Way, the TRUTH & the life." (John 14:6) In a day of lies, half-truths and uncertainties, it's always reassuring to know that there is a place that truth can be found.

One of the great lies of the Devil is that only a certain type of people can speak to the mountain. That only the righteous, holy and great can see it removed. But the focus of Jesus' truth is on ANYONE! "I tell you the truth, if anyone says to this mountain..."

Are you ANYONE? If you have emotional highs and lows, if you have good days and bad days, if you struggle with sin and yet have a desire to live for God, then you qualify as ANYONE.

There is no need to conjure up some form of hyper-faith. Simply have FAITH IN GOD! Have faith that the God who called you and saved you, is also the God who will get you through today's activity and tomorrow's adventure.