Mark 11:22-24 – “So Jesus answered and said to them, “Have faith in God.  23 For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says.  24 Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them.”  NKJV

In many ways this is a perplexing passage and one that many Christians have attempted and failed miserably.  All of us face mountains from time to time and all of us would like to be able to remove those barriers that hinder our progress in life, right?  To the people of Judah, in Jesus’ day, a mountain represented any hindrance to their progress.  Therefore, when Jesus told them they could have whatever they said and included the visual of the mountain they could readily, identify with what He was teaching.  How many actually believed Him is quite another story.

I would suggest there are some rules or serious considerations for ‘moving a mountain’ in our lives.  I believe it is important to understand the hindrance we are trying to remove or move and how it came to be.  For example, if you have created a financial mountain by lack of wisdom and discipline you will find it quite stubborn in its resistance to your commands to be removed.  If your mountain is physical sickness and you have maintained an unhealthy lifestyle failing to eat, exercise and rest properly that mountain will be quite stubborn when you speak to it.  In fact, I would suggest that UNTIL you take proper steps to correct those root problems you may not be successful in removing it.

Let me give you a few simple rules regarding ‘Moving a Mountain.” 

• Do Not Build The Mountain In The First Place.

God is not likely to allow us to be mountain movers if we are continuously in the process and habit of mountain building.  Praying for the mountain to move won’t work if we are, at the same time, responsible for their creation.  I have witnessed some get healed physically, emotionally, relationally and spiritually when the removed resentment and bitterness from their hearts.  (The Lord removed them).  I have witnessed financial miracles when the root of jealousy, greed, covetousness and envy were rooted out.  I have seen lives move from struggle to spiritual peace when bad company was eliminated from the associations.

• It Is Critical To Know That What You Are Saying Is Correct.

Jesus did not say that we were to pray and then hope God removes the mountain.  No, he said we are to believe and expect the mountain to be removed.  I am reminded of the story of the woman who heard the preacher preach on this passage and there was a mountain near her house that she had to go around to get to town so she went home and commanded the mountain to be removed.  The next morning and said, “Just as I thought, still here!”   That is expectation but wrongly applied!

Jesus said that the person who says to the mountain ‘be removed’ will get what he speaks if he does not doubt ‘in his heart’.  Therein is the rub.  We have the promises of God and proclaim and claim them but in our hearts we ‘doubt.’  The heart is the residence of doubt.  Doubt can be dealt with and overcome with knowledge.  The more I know the less I doubt. It is valuable for us to examine our hearts and lives to see if we are creating the very mountains we are trying to remove and if so take steps to correct our actions.  Then, believe God’s promise that we can identify that mountain, speak to it through His authority and see it crumble before us.

I am not suggesting that whatever you say you get without fail but that if you face mountains, not of your creation, God gives you a promise that if you trust Him that mountain can be and will be removed!

            God bless you as you go through this day!