Meditations Upon Mark 11:24
Therefore, I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.
This verse is one of the most abused
passages in the Bible. Televangelists treat it as if it were their “Magna
Carta” for supernatural healing and extraordinary spiritual events. Misguidedly
seeking material acquisition and financial gain, many disciples allow them to
scratch their itching ears with a vile reductionism of this verse and its context.
They eagerly listen to the concept of “Ask it, name it and claim it.”
What did those words mean to the people
who originally heard them? How did they respond? What did the evangelist intend
using those words? Has anything been lost in the translation from Greek to
English? Biblical authors wrote in word pictures. What mental image did the
evangelist intend for his hearers and readers to formulate in response to his
directive? What exactly does it mean to have faith in God?
Let’s deconstruct the verses. Does
“Have” mean to possess? How does a disciple acquire faith? What is faith? Does
referring to synonyms such as belief, trust and reliance suffice to define
faith? Admittedly, “in God” presumes God’s existence and acceptance of this
concept. How does a disciple ask anything of God? What does it mean to
“believe?” How would a disciple prove his or her belief? How would you receive
something intangible? The evangelist instructs his readers to affirm that they
have already acquired the object of their heartfelt desire without being able
to physically hold it. The passage alludes to a forthcoming time when the objects of a disciple’s prayer
will manifest before him or her. What difference will answers to these questions make?
The author of Hebrews defines faith as
the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things unseen. Faith
demands an unwavering belief that your investment of time, talent, treasure and
temperament toward a dream, goal or ambition will yield success. Faith enables
you to see success before you practically achieve it. Your belief in your
abilities, capabilities, capacities and endowments sustain you as you
painstakingly pursue fulfillment of your goals and aspirations. With the inner
eye, you can see success before it happens. The spiritual disciplines of
prayer, meditation and affirmation are like oil in the lamp to guide your path during
darkness, doubt and fear.
The evangelist specifies that disciples
are to have faith in Almighty God. I posit that he does not disdain belief in
one’s own self. Self-esteem is a nonnegotiable attribute for anyone who seeks
to achieve anything meaningful. If you do not believe in yourself, then you
cannot expect anyone else to do so. Nevertheless, the evangelist specifies that
we put our faith in Almighty God. Therein, we assert an unequivocal belief and
trust in God’s ability and grace to impart the objects of our petitions. We
trust God to answer our prayers in accordance with His sovereign will and
divine plan for our individual lives and humankind. A belief in Almighty God
requires an assertion of His four immutable characteristics. He is infinite and
limitless in knowledge, power, presence and kindness. He possesses the power
and prerogative to grant our prayers. Also, He has the sovereignty to deny them
for whatever reason He chooses.
As it relates to any measure of faith
necessary to achieve a favorable outcome, the evangelist in Matthew’s gospel
depicts the minimally requisite amount. He says that faith the size of a
mustard seed is powerful enough to move a mountain. With a mustard seed’s size
of faith, disciples can command mountains to cast themselves into the sea.
Practically, this means that disciples can merely entertain an idea that their
circumstances can be different. Are you willing to believe that God indeed can
heal your major health challenges? We are twenty-first century, global and
pluralistic disciples. Many of us uncritically accept the scientific method as
the most reliable means of determining truth and reality. However, do we like
our first century counterparts genuinely rely upon our Heavenly Father to
intervene favorably in our affairs? Notwithstanding science, technology, social
science, psychology and reason, is there any merit to petitioning God to intervene
within our circumstances? Are we willing to entertain the idea? A mustard seed
of faith equates with a humble willingness to believe God will suspend natural
law and readjust your situation? Certainly, He will should He elect to utilize
you and your predicament to glorify Himself. Like the experientially and
existentially exhausted father in Mark 9:23, you may cry aloud, “Lord, I believe but help Thou my unbelief!” A mustard
seed of faith is incomplete, but it is not insincere or inadequate.
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