Oh Peter. So we learn in verse 12 that Jesus was hungry and he goes over to a fig tree to eat some of its fruit, but the tree was bare. Jesus spoke, "May no one ever eat fruit from you again." The next day, Jesus and his disciples passed by the fig tree that Jesus rebuked and Peter said, "Rabbi, look! The fig tree that you cursed has withered." Really, Peter? Jesus did say that no one would eat from it again! As soon as I read Peter's response, I knew I had to write about it, because I had a similar response today regarding God's provision. When Jesus says He will do something He will do it- that's the point He was making in verse 22-24: 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 what he says will come to pass, it will be done for him. Therefore, I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours." Can you imagine how our prayer life might change if we truly believed God for who He is and did not doubt?
So, my testimony for today... Joey and I need a van. We've been a one-car family for 6 months now, and it's been rough since we live in the sticks where most of my friends, my church, the grocery store etc., is up to 12 miles away- a far walk with two kids and one on the way! Anyway, we honestly believed that somehow God would provide a van for us. Honestly, my husband was a little more confident in this area than I was, but I did believe that it could happen. There were several vans that were brought to our attention, but we didn't have peace about any of them. We didn't have the funds to purchase one and we really preferred not to go in debt anymore to get one. We inwardly hoped that one day we would come home to a van on our driveway. Some of you laugh, but we know of a family who had just that. We weren't looking for a free hand out, but we do know that God could have provided that way. Well, He didn't. I was getting a little discouraged, as our finances have been tight the past few years, and I was afraid of what it would look like if we went in debt for a van. Anyway, another van was brought to our attention from people that Joey's family know. Considering this one gave us peace. Not sure why, but it did. We arranged with the bank to take a loan out for the amount it was selling for- no problems there. Okay, great, we're going to get a van! But there was something still inside of me that was disappointed in God. We had prayed since Joey's car stopped working 6 months ago that God would provide a car, or the funds to get one. Then we found out we were pregnant! That made things even more pressing, as the one car we do have only fits two car seats. We needed a van! Anyway (getting to the good part...), today I was opening bills, and one of the payments for a bill we have for $120 went to $0, which we totally didn't expect. The great thing? Our banker figured our van payment to be roughly $125! God provided financially for us so that we could afford this van we felt peace about pursuing! Did God provide the way I thought He would? Absolutely not. But He provided, and I'm glad He did it in a way I never would have thought!
How does this tie into Mark 11- specifically verse 21 when Peter marveled at how powerful Jesus was- that even a fig tree obeyed him? Peter had doubt in his heart about the curse Jesus put on the fig tree, otherwise he wouldn't have been so surprised that Jesus' words came to pass. I too, had a little doubt in my heart that Jesus was going to provide for this need we had. We had prayed for so long, and honestly, I had believed along with my husband that God would provide somehow. When I opened the envelope to read a bill, I marveled that God did provide, just like at one time, I had trusted. My reaction was like, 'Really God, you provided for us?!' I had given up hope because He didn't do it quickly at the beginning when our car first died, or the way I thought He was going to do it. But I can tell you there was a purpose for all that... maybe I will write about that in another blog. I am grateful that God was merciful to me, even with the little doubt I had in my heart. I know that God was just waiting for the perfect time to provide, and trust me, it was unexpected. Thank you Jesus.
Anyway, lesson today is, don't doubt! Jesus says once again, "Truly, I say to you whoever...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 for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours."
~Leanne~
So, my testimony for today... Joey and I need a van. We've been a one-car family for 6 months now, and it's been rough since we live in the sticks where most of my friends, my church, the grocery store etc., is up to 12 miles away- a far walk with two kids and one on the way! Anyway, we honestly believed that somehow God would provide a van for us. Honestly, my husband was a little more confident in this area than I was, but I did believe that it could happen. There were several vans that were brought to our attention, but we didn't have peace about any of them. We didn't have the funds to purchase one and we really preferred not to go in debt anymore to get one. We inwardly hoped that one day we would come home to a van on our driveway. Some of you laugh, but we know of a family who had just that. We weren't looking for a free hand out, but we do know that God could have provided that way. Well, He didn't. I was getting a little discouraged, as our finances have been tight the past few years, and I was afraid of what it would look like if we went in debt for a van. Anyway, another van was brought to our attention from people that Joey's family know. Considering this one gave us peace. Not sure why, but it did. We arranged with the bank to take a loan out for the amount it was selling for- no problems there. Okay, great, we're going to get a van! But there was something still inside of me that was disappointed in God. We had prayed since Joey's car stopped working 6 months ago that God would provide a car, or the funds to get one. Then we found out we were pregnant! That made things even more pressing, as the one car we do have only fits two car seats. We needed a van! Anyway (getting to the good part...), today I was opening bills, and one of the payments for a bill we have for $120 went to $0, which we totally didn't expect. The great thing? Our banker figured our van payment to be roughly $125! God provided financially for us so that we could afford this van we felt peace about pursuing! Did God provide the way I thought He would? Absolutely not. But He provided, and I'm glad He did it in a way I never would have thought!
How does this tie into Mark 11- specifically verse 21 when Peter marveled at how powerful Jesus was- that even a fig tree obeyed him? Peter had doubt in his heart about the curse Jesus put on the fig tree, otherwise he wouldn't have been so surprised that Jesus' words came to pass. I too, had a little doubt in my heart that Jesus was going to provide for this need we had. We had prayed for so long, and honestly, I had believed along with my husband that God would provide somehow. When I opened the envelope to read a bill, I marveled that God did provide, just like at one time, I had trusted. My reaction was like, 'Really God, you provided for us?!' I had given up hope because He didn't do it quickly at the beginning when our car first died, or the way I thought He was going to do it. But I can tell you there was a purpose for all that... maybe I will write about that in another blog. I am grateful that God was merciful to me, even with the little doubt I had in my heart. I know that God was just waiting for the perfect time to provide, and trust me, it was unexpected. Thank you Jesus.
Anyway, lesson today is, don't doubt! Jesus says once again, "Truly, I say to you whoever...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 for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours."
~Leanne~
RSS Feed
