The Upper Room Daily Devotional Guide "Moving Mountains" Wednesday, 19 February 2014 ~ Read Matthew 17

The Upper Room Daily Devotional Guide "Moving Mountains" Wednesday, 19 February 2014 ~ Read Matthew 17:14 When they came to the multitude, a man came to him, kneeling down to him, saying, 15 “Lord, have mercy on my son, for he is epileptic, and suffers grievously; for he often falls into the fire, and often into the water. 16 So I brought him to your disciples, and they could not cure him.”
17 Jesus answered, “Faithless and perverse generation! How long will I be with you? How long will I bear with you? Bring him here to me.” 18 Jesus rebuked him, the demon went out of him, and the boy was cured from that hour.
19 Then the disciples came to Jesus privately, and said, “Why weren’t we able to cast it out?”
20 He said to them, “Because of your unbelief. For most certainly I tell you, if you have faith as a grain of mustard seed, you will tell this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you. 21 But this kind doesn’t go out except by prayer and fasting.”
Jesus said, “Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.”~~Matthew 17:20-21 (NIV)
After a discussion with friends, I realized my application of this verse from Matthew 17 was different than most. The disciples could not understand why they were unable to heal a young boy. Jesus explained that their faith was weak. With true faith we can do anything, Jesus said — even move mountains. Reading this scripture, many people envision a majestic mountain picking up her skirts of rock and trees and stepping left or right — making a path for their purpose. But in my vision, I am pushing a wheelbarrow and carrying a shovel. I’m moving my mountain one rock at a time. Even with strong faith, we rely on God’s timing for the mountain to move. Just as we believe in answers to our prayers, patience and petition (wheelbarrows and shovels) help create the miracles we seek. If it is God’s will, we can call on our faith in God’s power to move our mountains, rock by rock.~~The Author~Tracey Maxey Cox (Texas, USA)
Thought for the Day: With God’s help I can move mountains — one rock at a time. Today, I will talk to a non-Christian friend about my faith.
Prayer: Dear God, may our faith be strong enough to move mountains. Sustain us as we move them according to your plan. Amen.
Prayer focus: Someone carrying a heavy burden
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