A Serving Leadership Insight from the Life of Jesus Christ (Mark 11:22-24)

“‘Have faith in God,’ Jesus answered. ‘Truly I tell you, if anyone says to this mountain, “Go, throw yourself into the sea,” and does not doubt in their heart but believes that what they say will happen, it will be done for them. Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.’” (Mark 11:22-24)

In Mark 11:22–24 Jesus included in his discussion on faith a statement about making petitions in prayer. “Whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours,” he proclaimed. It’s a significant statement with powerful implications. Unfortunately, it has also been twisted by some to guarantee whatever one prays for because of increased faith. Remember that Jesus prefaced this conversation with, “Have faith in God,” versus “have faith in your faith.” We first must align ourselves with our Audience of One and his will for the world. Any self-oriented basis is the antithesis of serving leadership. We ought not to presume on God. We don’t “name it and claim it” under the guise of having faith. We are children of a kingdom under the control of a king with a faith submitted to God’s perfect will. While we can certainly influence God through prayer, we are not sovereign. God has the final say. 

KEY QUESTIONS: How might I be presuming on God? How does first aligning myself with my “Audience of One” set me up for belief? How might I attempt to influence God through prayer?