Title: The Power of Believing Prayer – A Reflection on Mark 11:24
Scripture Focus:
"Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours." – Mark 11:24 (ESV)
Introduction
Faith is the heartbeat of the Christian life. It is not just a concept we understand with our minds; it is a lifestyle we are called to live. In Mark 11:24, Jesus delivers a powerful and transformative truth about the nature of prayer and belief. This verse is often quoted, but when rightly understood, it reveals the depth of what it means to trust God completely.
1. Prayer Is More Than Asking—It Is Trusting
Jesus begins by saying, "Whatever you ask in prayer..." This shows that prayer is the channel through which we make our requests known to God. But he does not stop at asking. The condition Jesus sets is clear: "Believe that you have received it."
This is not about wishful thinking or pretending that we have something we don’t. Rather, it’s about placing our trust in the character of God—that He hears, that He cares, and that He can respond.
2. Faith Believes Before It Sees
Faith is not dependent on physical evidence. Hebrews 11:1 tells us that “faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” In Mark 11:24, Jesus teaches us to believe first, and then we will see the results.
This kind of faith is rooted in a relationship. We believe not because we deserve the answer, but because we know the One we are asking—our Heavenly Father. Just as a child trusts a loving parent, we are to trust God completely, even when circumstances suggest otherwise.
3. God Answers According to His Will and Purpose
While Jesus says “whatever you ask,” it’s important to understand this in the context of God’s will. 1 John 5:14 reminds us: “If we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.”
God is not a vending machine that grants every request on demand. He is a loving Father who knows what’s best for His children. He says “yes,” sometimes “no,” and other times “wait.” All of these are loving answers, even if they challenge our expectations.
4. Unforgiveness Hinders Believing Prayer
Interestingly, if we look at the verses surrounding Mark 11:24, especially verse 25, Jesus also talks about forgiveness: “And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive them…”
This is a crucial reminder that faith works through love (Galatians 5:6). Unforgiveness can clog the spiritual flow in our hearts and hinder effective prayer. A believing heart must also be a forgiving heart.
5. Live With Expectation and Gratitude
When we pray and believe, we should begin to live in expectation. Our posture should shift from pleading to praising. A thankful heart demonstrates that we believe God is working, even when we can’t yet see the full picture.
Conclusion
Mark 11:24 is a call to faith-filled prayer—not just asking, but believing. It challenges us to grow in trust, to align our desires with God's will, and to walk in forgiveness. As we do, we begin to experience the joy of seeing God move in powerful and personal ways.
Let us then approach prayer not merely as a religious act, but as a relationship with a powerful and loving Father, believing that what He has promised, He is also able to perform.
Prayer:
Father, thank You that You hear us when we pray. Teach us to believe, not just in the outcome, but solely in You, the God who answers. Help us to forgive, to trust, and to wait with expectation. Strengthen our faith that we may walk confidently in Your promises. In Jesus’ mighty name, Amen.
BE BLESSED BEYOND MEASURE!
CHRIS N. BRAZA
Pamagat: Panalanging May Pananampalataya – Pagninilay sa Markos 11:24
Talata:
“Kaya't sinasabi ko sa inyo, anuman ang hingin ninyo sa panalangin, maniwala kayong tinanggap na ninyo iyon, at matatanggap nga ninyo.” – Markos 11:24
Panimula
Ang pananampalataya ay puso ng ating buhay Kristiyano. Hindi lamang ito kaalaman sa isip, kundi ito ay pamumuhay na may tiwala sa Diyos. Sa Markos 11:24, itinuturo ni Jesus ang isang makapangyarihang prinsipyo: ang panalangin na may tunay na pananampalataya ay may bunga.
1. Ang Panalangin ay Hindi Lamang Paghiling—Ito'y Pagtitiwala
Sabi ni Jesus, "Anuman ang hingin ninyo sa panalangin..." Ibig sabihin, bukas ang Diyos sa ating mga kahilingan. Ngunit ang susi ay nasa sumunod na salita: "maniwala kayong tinanggap na ninyo iyon."
Hindi ito nangangahulugan ng “positivity” lang o pag-aakalang nakuha na natin ang gusto natin. Ito ay malalim na pagtitiwala sa Diyos—na Siya’y nakikinig, Siya’y mabuti, at kaya Niyang tumugon sa tamang panahon.
2. Ang Tunay na Pananampalataya ay Naniniwala Bago Makita
Sa mundong ito, kadalasang sinasabi natin, "To see is to believe." Ngunit sa kaharian ng Diyos, ang totoo ay: "To believe is to see."
Ang pananampalataya ay hindi nakadepende sa mata, kundi sa puso. Ang taong may pananampalataya ay naniniwala sa pangako ng Diyos kahit hindi pa niya ito nararamdaman o nakikita. Alam niyang ang Diyos ay tapat.
3. Ang Diyos ay Tumutugon Ayon sa Kanyang Kalooban
Ang salitang "anuman" ay hindi nangangahulugang lahat ng gusto natin ay awtomatikong ibibigay ng Diyos. Sa 1 Juan 5:14, malinaw na sinasabi:
“Kung tayo'y humihingi ng anumang bagay ayon sa kanyang kalooban, tayo'y pinakikinggan niya.”
Tandaan natin: higit na mabuti ang kalooban ng Diyos kaysa sa ating sariling kagustuhan. Minsan "oo" ang sagot Niya, minsan "hindi," at kadalasan ay "hintay." Pero sa lahat ng ito, laging may layunin Siya.
4. Ang Hindi Pagpapatawad ay Hadlang sa Mabisang Panalangin
Sa susunod na talata pagkatapos ng Markos 11:24, sabi ni Jesus:
“At kapag kayo'y nananalangin, patawarin muna ninyo ang nagkasala sa inyo...” (Markos 11:25)
Ang puso na may galit at hinanakit ay hindi makapanalangin ng may tunay na pananampalataya. Ang pananampalataya ay gumagana sa pamamagitan ng pag-ibig. Kaya, bago tayo humiling, tiyakin nating malinis ang ating puso at may pagpapatawad sa kapwa.
5. Mamuhay Nang May Pag-asa at Pasasalamat
Kung naniniwala tayong tinanggap na natin ang ating hinihiling, natural lang na tayo’y mamuhay nang may kagalakan at pasasalamat. Ipinapakita nito na tayo’y nagtitiwala, hindi lamang sa resulta, kundi sa Diyos na tumutupad ng Kanyang salita.
Pangwakas
Ang Markos 11:24 ay paanyaya sa atin na manalangin nang may buong pananampalataya. Hindi ito basta panalangin ng labi lamang, kundi panalangin mula sa pusong nagtitiwala, nagpapatawad, at nagpapasalamat.
Sa bawat panalangin, alalahanin nating hindi natin kailangang maramdaman muna ang kasagutan bago maniwala. Dahil kapag tayo’y nanalig, tunay nating mararanasan ang pagkilos ng Diyos.
Panalangin:
Panginoon, salamat po dahil nakikinig Ka sa aming mga panalangin. Turuan Mo po kaming manalig hindi lamang sa sagot, kundi sa Iyo mismo. Linisin Mo ang aming puso, bigyan Mo kami ng kapatawaran at kapayapaan. At sa lahat ng bagay, nawa’y masunod ang Iyong kalooban. Sa Makapangyarihang pangalan ni Jesus, Amen.
SUMAATIN ANG PAGPAPALANG HIGIT SA LAHAT!
CHRIS N. BRAZA
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