Thursday, December 26, 2013

Doubt Can't Move Stones


“‘But Lord’ said Martha. Then Jesus said, ‘Did I not tell you that if you believed, you would see the glory of God?’  So they took away the stone and Jesus lifted up his eyes and said, ‘Father, I thank you that you have heard me.  I knew that you always hear me’” John 11:38, 41-42.

The day had been daunting.  The sisters had sent for the One who could save their precious brother.  But, Jesus had not come…had not saved…had the ability but didn’t show up.  Their brother had died and was buried in a cave with a stone covering the entrance.  Four long days of grieving, planning, feeling abandoned…When Jesus arrived He asked them to escort Him to the burial site…the very place where their dreams were laid to rest.  His instructions were for them to move the stone so He could accomplish God’s will.  Obviously, the sisters had their reasons for questioning Jesus, but He reminded them that their belief in answered prayers would be the means for receiving their desire.

Jesus knew He was going to raise Lazarus from the dead.  More importantly, Jesus knew what had really died was their belief in getting the desire of their hearts.  He knew what dream was in their heart, but their unbelief was covering the entrance of answered prayers.  The stone was heavy and blocked their path from receiving their miracle. 

I was considering this earlier today and wondering what unbelief is covering the entrance to my miracle.  What heavy stone stands in the way of living like we expect God to give us the desires of my heart?  ‘But Lord, what if she is not healed?  But Lord, what if my son never returns?  But Lord, what if I can’t pay my bills?’  The ‘buts’ go on and on and our heavy stone stays in front of our desires.  When we form words of unbelief and doubt…I’m never going to get _________ we run the risk of sabotaging our own answered prayers.  We must pray for boldness, confidence and in expectation that God reads our hearts and moves mountains for His children.  But remember…

Doubt can’t move stones, but faith can.

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