Faith of a Mustard Seed

“Because you have so little faith. 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.” Mathew 17:20

How many times have you read this scripture or heard someone say it and think, "But I do have faith and still the mountain won't move!" It can be so frustrating when we are facing trials and we just can not seem to have our prayers answered. Or we speak to the mountain in our path, with the tools we have been given in Christ and still nothing happens. I know how frustrating that can be.

So let's dive into this a little further. I recently heard an amazing Pastor speak about the whole armour of God and in his sermon he touched on this very topic. He spoke about how easily we give up. We see the size of the mountain and we think we just cannot take it on. We look at our own weaknesses and think we don't have the strength to do it. But we do! We have Jesus. There is no other name in the world that holds the power to take on our enemies or trials. So what are missing?

I believe we read the above verse and think that's all we need is faith, even small faith. But how do we get that faith? This is the real question we seem to forget. So how do we do it? With Prayer and fasting.

16 “When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show others they are fasting. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full.

17 But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face,

18 so that it will not be obvious to others that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. Mathew 6:16-18

You can look all throughout the bible and see fasting within its pages. What did Moses do? What did Abraham do? David? Jesus?

They all prayed and fasted when they needed to wait on the Lord. I often think we cry out and forget to just pray. It takes patience but to quiet yourself before God and just listen, to just thank Him for his provision and love can change and strengthen your faith. It reminds us that He answers in His time, His perfect time. It's a place we can go to with Him and tell Him our secrets, our needs. Prayer is so important to develop our relationship with the Father, and in turn we see the fruits of that relationship.

With fasting that's another story. Some give up food altogether, others like myself give up other things. Like internet, television, maybe one meal a day I will fast while seeking the Lord's answer or his strength.

Let’s just focus on Jesus for a glorious moment. He shows you in His walk that it was necessary to always stop and pray, to make time for it. He also shows you that fasting was essential. It allows you to let go of things and instead place your focus on the Father. To dive into the word, the very sword of the spirit and seek God. And when you do that, your beautiful little seed of faith is planted. As you pray more and seek his face, you water it and it begins to grow. How awesome is that!

So here's food for thought. Do you have a mountain standing in your way? Are you praying fervently and taking the problem to God? Are you giving up anything distracting so you can focus on Him?

I really encourage you to sit down and think about this. To start walking in strength and faith, knowing that if you give time to God, he will grow you in a way you never knew possible!