On the following day, when they came from Bethany, he [Jesus] was hungry. And seeing in the distance a fig tree in leaf, he went to see if he could find anything on it. When he came to it, he found nothing but leaves, for it was not the season of figs. And he said to it, “May no one ever eat fruit from you again.” And his disciples heard it…
…As they passed by in the morning, they saw the fig tree withered away to its roots. And Peter remembered and said to him, “Rabbi, look! The fig tree that you cursed has withered.” And Jesus answered them, “Have faith in God. 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. And whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone, so that your Father also who is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.”
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Mark 11:12-14, 20-25.
Woa. Jesus, help our unbelief! Wow, may our generation be filled with lovers of You who pray with faith and without any doubt. Great things are to be done because of this, Lord!
My mom (staunch enthusiast of money with bitterness and hatred cluttered within her small, small heart) called me. For the first time, she said not to worry, because God has a plan for me. Then she said she will pray for me. That was the first time she ever talked about God to me. I always had a dad who tucked me in and prayed for me, a dad who called and left voicemails of prayers and bible verses, but I never had a mom who did those things.
My dad called a few days after that, and I could tell he was smiling on the other end of the line. He said my mom is bearing such sweet fruit - fruit that can only be brought forth from starting to seek and know and love Him. Wow! My dad prayed for his wife relentlessly. I wish I could say something paralleling that, like, “And I prayed for my mom relentlessly,” but I know I didn’t. Too busy, you know? And too doubtful. Man, all I can say is Eff Dat. I’m not living in that sinful spirit anymore.
Rabbi, look! That fig tree is all dead ‘n stuff cus you cursed it. “Have faith in God” is how Jesus replies. What. a. Bauce.
