# 617 - Today's Du-votional comes from: Mr 11:22-23 “So Jesus answered and said to them, "Have faith in God. "For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, 'Be removed and be cast into the sea,' and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says.
Jesus is not talking about saving faith here, but rather that faith that is considered one of the gifts of the Spirit as mentioned in 1 Cor 12:7-11. This supernatural gift of God allows for supernatural healings, miracles, futuristic prophetic utterances, and discerning of spirits, and all other things that we would view as impossible.
Doubt is the enemy of this kind of faith.. Remember the incident after the Mount of transfiguration? A father brings his son to the disciples to be delivered from demonic possession but they couldn't do it and Jesus told them it was due to a lack of faith. and then used the illustration of being able to cast a mountain into the see with the faith of a mustard seed.
What caused their faith to flee? It was just a shadow of doubt. Just an inkling that God won't take action and you're gift of faith becomes impotent. What to do? Jesus reminded His disciples that “these kind only come out through “prayer and fasting.”
I think we all struggle at times with doubt, but in this passage, Jesus tells us how to conquer doubt. The Christian disciplines of prayer and fasting strengthen the gift of faith, and help minimize doubt. Put them into practice!
Pray! Have conversations with God in His Word on a regular basis, responding with action when He calls for it, to show Him that you have heard what he has spoken.
Fast! Pray with your body, denying yourself sensual pleasure for a time in order to have more of God!
Father, if we are to take our faith seriously, we need to engage in these spiritual disciplines, give us the resolve to start today.
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