Scriptures:
Matthew 21:21-22
Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, if you have faith and do not doubt, not only can you do what was done to the fig tree, but also you can say to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and it will be done. If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer.”
Mark 9:23
“‘If you can’?” said Jesus. “Everything is possible for him who believes.”
John 15: 16
You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit—fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name.
Ornament is a picture of a mountain. (handpaint one on a clear bulb bought from a Craft store.)
Carol: Go Tell It On The Mountain
Thoughts:
Mountains are the highest, biggest, most deeply rooted things we can imagine on earth. Once in place, we do not imagine that it may ever move. We have situations in our lives which we view in that way.
When we look towards God in prayer, we often imagine Him taking us on a long arduous pathway through our mountains, otherwise thinking that we will have to camp in the shadow; but God sent Jesus to give us His Heavenly perspective.
His perspective is that we can move the mountain, not that He must take us climbing and struggling through it.
Our biggest problem is not our mountain, our biggest problem is allowing faith to grow. Even that has little to do with our own efforts, though. Faith is a growing, organic thing which, like a seed, holds life in its complete form deep within it.
Combining the different parables you might even say that what the seed of faith holds within it is the start of the mountain of God’s Kingdom…which moves every other kingdom out of the way.
Prayer allows God to show you, and the world what He is building. It parts the veil so that you reach into the unseen, grasp God’s promises, and see something much larger. The sea of God’s greatness can hold the mountain of your problem and all it takes is for you to start your prayer life. Plant your prayers, propel your prayers, build your prayers around God’s promises. It will bear fruit in your life, it will make everything a possibility instead of an impossibility, and it will move your mountains.
The baby Jesus was God’s small seed planted into the earth, overlooked by all the passers by. There was no room at the Inn, the Innkeeper was too busy making his windfall income. There was no knowledge of the entry of this king, the leaders were too busy maintaining their position with Caesar.
There was no notice or celebration of God’s greatest accomplishment except for attending angels, some select but ordinary shepherds, and a group of Gentile wise men. But it took place nonetheless, with a promise that it would become a mountain that shattered all the other kingdoms of this world.
This accomplishment of God will bring the longed for peace, it will produce everlasting joy, and sadness and tears will flee away for all who take up residence in God’s mountain.
Give your mountains to God in prayer, let Him build His promised holy mountain in your life, instead. Advent is a time to grow your prayer life, it is a time of waiting to see what God will do. It is also a time to do what God calls you to do during this time of anticipation.
Do you surrender your life to Him, like Mary did?
Do you patiently follow His admonitions, like Joseph did?
Do you announce His good news like the angels did?
Do you rejoice in Him, like the shepherds did?
Do you present your worship and gifts to Him, like the wise men did?
Do you wait for His appearance in your life, like Simeon did?
Photo credit: ckurle from morguefile.com
