Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove, and nothing shall be impossible unto you." Matthew 17:20
Restless, fidgety and sleepless nights often coincide with the persistent pain that I deal with on a daily basis. So, on those particular nights I frequently listen to gospel music or the Bible on CD.
As I listened to the narration of Matthew 17 last night, the ending verse on the CD abruptly and unexpectedly concluded on verse 20, where Jesus was talking about "faith as a grain of mustard seed" to His disciples. Jesus had been approached by a man who knelt down before Him and spoke, "Lord," Have mercy on my son because he is deranged and suffers severely. He often falls into the fire and into the waters, I bought him to your disciples, but they couldn't heal him."
Jesus became upset and replied, "You unbelieving and rebellious generation! How long will I be with you? How long must I put up with you? Bring your son to me," then Jesus rebuked the demon and it came out of the man's son, and from that moment onward the boy was healed!
When the disciples approached Jesus in private they asked, "Lord, Why couldn't we drive the demon out?" To which Jesus replied, "Because of your little faith, for I assure you: If you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you will tell the mountain to move from here to there and it will move! NOTHING... will be impossible for you. However, this kind does not come out except by prayer and fasting."
Instantly, the Lord's words struck the "chords of my heart" and I thought to myself, Is my faith SMALLER than a mustard seed? I believe this verse, yet I have never "moved mountains" or "delivered miracles..." so I have a vast hunger to increase my faith to be LARGER or at least, the size of a mustard seed that I may be able to do what the Lord says can be done!!
In 2017 my desire is just that, "to grow closer to my Lord," so that I may know and serve Him more fully each and every day!! I believe that in my life... this may call for a battle plan of more prayer and fasting to reach these specific goals!
If the Lord says that nothing is impossible for us... I want to absolutely and genuinely take hold of His words! And, I want to use whatever He gives me to GLORIFY and MAGNIFY... that precious Name of Jesus!!
I can no longer just "go with the flow" while my life dwindles away, no... my hunger and thirst for Jesus is absolutely and thoroughly increasing each and every day! And, I want to serve Him more fully each and every day!