In Matt. 17 we read how Jesus was transfigured on a high mountain, and when he and Peter, James and John came down from the mountain; they approached a crowd of people. Verses 17 – 21 state – ““And when they came to the crowd, a man came up to Jesus and, kneeling before Him, said, ‘Lord, have mercy on my son, for he is an epileptic, and he suffers terribly. For often, he falls into the fire, and often into the water. And I brought him to your disciples, but they could not heal him.’ Jesus answered, ‘O faithless generation, how long am I to be with you? How long am I to bear with you? Bring him here to Me.’ And Jesus rebuked him, and the demon came out of him, and the boy was cured instantly. Then, the disciples came to Jesus privately, and they said, ‘Why could we not cast it out?’ And Jesus said to them, ‘Because of your little faith. For truly, I say to you, if you have faith as a grain of mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, “Move hence to yonder place,” and it will move. And nothing will be impossible to you.’”
The disciples lacked power to heal the boy, but Jesus had the power. And Jesus had the power because He knew how to spend time with His Father in prayer. In a devotion “From the Word made Fresh” By Howard Edington, He notes that David Redding, in commenting on this passage, says that “these words of Scripture give us an unusual insight into Jesus own understanding of His extraordinary power, that as you read these verses, it becomes quite clear that Jesus meant by prayer not just a momentary utterance but rather a life of intimacy with God through personal communion.”
Prayer needs to be more than just words to Abba Father and Jesus, more than just communication, more than worship or expressing needs. It needs to build such a deep intimacy with the Trinity, that it becomes a lifestyle.
In Jesus’ time it was normal for people to speak about moving mountains – mountains of difficulties, mountains of impossibilities and hardships. If we saturate ourselves in the sweet presence of Jesus, if we immerse ourselves in a relationship with Christ, and surrender ourselves into a life of intimacy with God through personal, direct communion, then we will be able to overcome life’s problems, sorrows, difficulties and tragedies.
Dr. Alexis Carrel, a doctor and scientist, says the following – ““Prayer is the most powerful form of energy one can generate. If you make a habit of sincere prayer in your life, you will discover that your life is noticeably and profoundly altered…Prayer is a force as real as the force of gravity.”
In Psalm 55:16-18 David wrote, “As for me, I call to God, and the LORD saves me. Evening, morning and noon I cry out in distress, and He hears my voice. He rescues me unharmed from the battle waged against me, even though many oppose me.” King David often moved his mountains of hardships through prayer.
Precious Saviour, I have a mountain of uncertainties to move. (Mention them to the Lord). I desire a life of genuine closeness with You. Forgive me when I have not come to You first and foremost with my needs. I surrender myself to You, body, soul and spirit, so that I can have a more intimate relationship with You. Please open the heart of my understanding, so that I can “know You more clearly, love You more dearly and follow you more nearly.” Amen.
Myrtle Turunen