Presence

My soul thirsts for you God, the God of my life. Quench my thirst with your Word.

Scripture Reading

Mark 11:23-24 NRSVue

Truly I tell you, if you say to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and thrown into the sea,’ and if you do not doubt in your heart but believe that what you say will come to pass, it will be done for you. So I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.

Reflection

How do I pray? Do I ask God to give me something, to make something right, to cure someone? Or do I thank him for already giving me what I need, for having made something right, for curing someone? Do I pray with faith and with hope? Is there part of me that doubts my prayers will be answered? Or am I certain that God will hear me and come to my aid? Today, rather than being defeatist in attitude and words, I will speak and act out of success, knowing that when I do, God will honour my faith and reward my belief. God may not give me everything I want, but he will give me everything I need.

Closing Prayer

Dear Lord, help me to pray with confidence and faith, knowing that you always have my best interests at heart. Keep far from me despair and discouragement, and remind me that you are always on my side, and always answer my prayers with either a “yes”, a “yes, but not yet”, or a “no, because I have something better for you”.  Amen!