And Jesus answered them, “Truly, I say to you, if you have faith and do not doubt, you will not only do what has been done to the fig tree, but even if you say to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and thrown into the sea,’ it will happen. And whatever you ask in prayer, you will receive, if you have faith.” Matthew 21:21-22

The point to these verses isn’t about moving mountains or doing miraculous things. The point is faith, sincere faith.

We pray often but do we pray believing in the Sovereign God to “move mountains” to make it happen.

I can attest that when we’re praying desperately for a loved one, the prayer is as real and raw as can be because it’s something that brings out your emotion. Those are the prayers that move God because they’re real.

The question then becomes, how to we translate that real-ness to all of our prayers? I think partially we become distracted when we set aside time to prayer. Our mind races about all the things that we need to do next, all the responsibilities of life that need tended to, and our prayers can be rushed, rote, and insincere. Somehow being able to keep our minds from wandering even as we approach God is a good first step.

It’s been said that you need to keep a pad nearby and every time a new thought comes in to write it down so you remember it and get back to focusing of God Almighty. Again, easier said than done but worth the discipline it takes to get there.