As a kid, I really wanted to believe that I could communicate telepathically with animals. It sounds pretty strange when I type it here, but I think most kids engage in some kind of magical or superpower fantasies.
I remember one day in particular when I tried especially hard. I was walking through the town park which included a small zoo which was a mix of domestic animals, like chickens and goats, and rescued native wildlife, like owls and a bear.
I was by myself and was in no rush. (In those days, children were allowed to wander around without adult supervision). I stopped by a pen containing ducks and peacocks. I decided to make a concerted effort to get one of the peacocks to open and display his feathers.
I selected one of the peacocks to communicate with and stared at it intently. I gazed into its eyes and thought the word “open” over and over. I concentrated as hard as my little brain allowed. I visualized the bird spreading its beautiful feathers.
This went on for a long time. And briefly I even thought I was having some success when the peacock walked my way and looked at me for a moment. But then it strutted away again, certainly oblivious to the weird little girl and her notions of avian mind control.
Today’s verse made me think of that because it also seems like magical thinking. Jesus had cursed a fig tree for not having any fruit, and His disciples noticed it was dead the following day. Jesus said they shouldn’t be surprised, that they too have this kind of power over the natural world. He said if they have total faith, they can ask a mountain to jump into the sea, and it will.
And then He says today’s verse. I’ve always wondered about this promise. Everything I ask and pray for? I’ve prayed and asked for a lot of things that I did not receive.
Why?
Well, there is that one little qualification: I have to believe that I have received it.
No matter how much I tried to get that peacock to obey me, I never really believed it would. I would have been shocked, and maybe even a little frightened, if it had, in fact.
When I pray to God for things, do I have doubts? Yes. Doubts don’t stop God from answering my prayers. He can still bless me as He sees fit, but without complete faith, those answers are not guaranteed.
Dear God,
I know you are not a genie in the business of granting wishes. But thank you for this promise to give me what I ask for when I trust you completely and fully believe in your ability and willingness to answer my prayers. Teach me how to have the kind of faith Jesus is talking about, the kind that can move mountains. And guide my prayers to be full of your wisdom and in line with your will.
CamDevo 