a view through annie's eyes

Truly, it was no more than a mustard seed of faith…I was going through some old books and found a prayer journal from six years ago. As I read each request from friends who had gathered to pray and some of my own heart’s pleadings, I wondered at God’s faithfulness and mercy at how each had come to fruition. Looking back, Ebenezer stones, remembrances of His faithfulness, marked my journey. Some requests were faith-filled, some were half-hearted (when pigs fly, but I’ll offer it anyway.) Some were desperate cries from a mother’s heart for healing, one a forlorn wife’s last ditch effort at reconciliation, another a grandmother’s hope in the next generation.

One prayer request brought streaming tears of gratitude to my eyes:

“9 January 2006  for C: a healing miracle that doctors are able to get every bit of the tumor, that there are no side effects that last and no recurrence, for his peace in next weeks of waiting; and guidance in another career for his life.”

I couldn’t wait to call my friend and read it to her and we would marvel together. At the time of her request, her grown child had a brain tumor that jeopardized his entire future and was robbing him of a career that he had spent his life in preparation for. It was serious. We were scared. But God saw every detail through in mighty ways. In the last six years, he’s experienced total healing, married, has two kids, and is back full time in his career of choice. Any one of those things were almost too much to hope for in those dark days but we prayed desperate prayers with his mom. At that time, she would have given anything to see any part of those prayers come true. Yesterday, I read her the prayer request on the phone, and it almost seemed taken for granted. It fell flat. Maybe she just couldn’t go back there where all that pain lived. Maybe she had too many new troubles on her plate, but I was stunned. She quickly dismissed the topic for the new day’s woes. However, as I read on in the prayer journal, I realized my vision and understanding was blurred by the log in my own eye.

In that same journal, another prayer totally took me by surprise. God had answered the deepest desire of my own heart long after I quit praying for it. Just this past fall, the prayer was answered, and I thought at that time, I haven’t asked for that in years! And I thanked Him then, but not adequately.  As I read my prayer request from years before, I remembered the flood of longing I felt as I asked God. In fact, I mostly recall the hopelessness I had with it. I was almost afraid to ask for it for the depth of fear if it had been rejected, even though I knew it was God’s desire, too. Somehow, I couldn’t pray with faith. It was too big and, certainly, too much to hope for. Looking back, it was a big deal. And it required nothing more than going to the Mountain Mover with the uttered plea.  Today, that particular chapter still has some pages to be written, but a brand new door opened that I would have sworn was permanently shut. And I testify that Jesus moves mountains!

So, with renewed extravagant Grace, I say to you this day, speak to your mountain in the mighty Name of Jesus, and believe that it has already been thrust into the sea. And He will most certainly answer.

Mark 11:23-24 ~”Truly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and thrown into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says will come to pass, it will be done for him. Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.”