Scripture:

“I tell you you can pray for anything, and if you believe you have received it,it will be yours.”

Observation
As they are leaving Bethany, Jesus sees a fig tree in full leaf. When he goes to see if there are any figs on it,he curses it saying, “May no one ever eat from you again.”

In Jerusalem, Jesus enters the temple and drives out the people buying and selling animals for the sacrifices. He stops people from using the temple precinct as a marketplace, saying, “The Scriptures say my temple will be called a house of prayer for the nations, but you have turned it into a den of thieves”

Jesus and the disciples leave the city for the night.

The next morning, they see that the fig tree Jesus had cursed, has withered from the roots. Jesus explains to the disciples that if we have faith in God, we can command mountains to move. If we have faith, believing that we have received something, then it will be given to us

Application
Jesus shows by words and actions that the words we speak can have powerful effects.

He curses a fig tree and it dies overnight.

Jesus tells us that the way to have prayers answered is to believe that God has already granted us what we need.

Too many of us pray wishy washy prayers, hoping for a result, not really believing.

Over and over, Jesus assures us that the Father wants to give us good gifts and that we must trust him for what we need.

This is bold and confident prayer based on a personal relationship with the Lord. It can become presumptuous and fleshly when we demand what we want, without seeking God’s will first.

God is gracious and loving. He wants to pour blessing after blessing upon us.

Listen:

Lord, there is so much to learn about prayer. What would you say to me today about this?

Keith, prayer at its heart is conversation with me. Many Christians believe it’s all one way, but if they would listen to me, they would find great depths in their prayer as well as great power.

This is important. Jesus said, “I only do what I see the Father doing.” You must look to me to see what I am doing and then pray.