THUD!!! You just collided head-on with a mountain. Ouch! Rubbing your bruises, you hear a voice in your ear instructing you ever so calmly: “Tell it to get out of your way.” You look up at Jesus, stunned, and stammer in protest, “But, but, but… my faith is so small!” He smiles into your eyes and replies, “I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there’ and it will move.” He nods and adds gently, “Nothing will be impossible for you” (Matt. 17:20, NIV).
So you try it out. You gather up all the strength your faith muscles can muster and you command the mountain to get out of your way.
In that moment, your mustard seed faith falls into the ground. Now watch the seed sinking into earth. Watch as it begins to open up under the soil. A little glimpse of white peaks out of the seed coat, then begins slipping downwards. This becomes a tap root, and before long you see a whole system of secondary roots moving outwards in all directions. At just the right moment, a very small green shoot also emerges from the seed and moves upwards through the earth, still underneath the surface.
Do you realize that all of this is invisible to us who live above the ground? There’s only one way to perceive the very real progress that the plant (your faith) is attaining: with the eyes of your heart. As you continue to give directives to the mountain standing in your way, hidden faith development is happening beyond where you can perceive it by natural means. Your mustard seed is doing exactly what it was created to do: putting down roots and advancing towards maturity. Again and again, drawing on Holy Spirit nutrients, you give the command, “Mountain, move!” Every time you do, those roots are getting deeper and deeper; stronger and stronger.
As you do this commanding, God’s breath is on the air that moves through your vocal cords. You are one with Him in spirit. His voice is commanding too, in and through your voice. Movement is actually happening steadily in spirit each and every time you speak forth His words to this mountain. Because you are going purely on faith and not on sight, your faith is daily getting stronger. You may not even notice the moment when its germinating head pops through the surface of the soil and begins to reach and stretch towards the sun. Regardless, the bona fide growth that is happening is unstoppable.
The mountain moving moment is coming. See it with the eyes of your heart… visualize this: The day at last arrives. You join your voice to His and finally render that decisive, commanding blow: “Who are you, O great mountain? Before [me] you shall become a plain!” (Zech. 4:7, ESV). An earth-shattering rumbling comes into your ears. It’s a sound unlike any you’ve ever heard before. The collapse of your mountainous foe vibrates through your entire being. Debris is flying everywhere; you cover your face. A moment later, you look up, and it’s GONE! Disappeared forever into the heart of the sea!
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Have you ever tried commanding a spiritual mountain to get out of your way?
Jennifer, I have not “called” upon a mountain to be removed but many times have witnessed their removal by calling on the Lord in the midst of great obstacles. Our God is faithful and I am growing in faith each day. I pray for the day that this will be. Amen. Len
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Amen!! He really is the one that moves them out of the way! I’m so grateful the Author and Perfecter of our faith is continuing to take us from glory to glory!
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For me, it’s not so much a matter of moving a mountain, but making the mountain aware that, with divine help, I’m gonna drill a path straight through its heart and get to the other side. “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil. . . .”
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That is SUCH a good picture, too! Yes, Lord! Right through the heart!
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I loved how you explained Faith, a beautiful picture!
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Thank you so much, Riley! Praise the Lord! 😀
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Sometimes. Excellent picture of our faith growing. Ty:)
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Thank you too, Bonnie! ❤ So much!
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YW.:)
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🙂 ❤
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I think you would enjoy my story of “The Faith That Moved a Lake” in my book “BARRIERS (So, if prayers are so powerful, how come mine don’t get answered?)”
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That definitely sounds like something I would enjoy! Is it available on the Kindle store?
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It’s available in Kindle on Amazon. Is that the same thing?
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Yes, that’s the same thing 🙂 Would you please send me the link? I’d love to read it!
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Oops, I think it was “The Prayer That Moved a Lake.” Anyway, it’s in chapter 6: “Barrier #6: Lack of Faith.”
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https://www.amazon.com/Barriers-Ann-Aschauer/dp/160920106X/ref=sr_1_fkmrnull_2?keywords=ann+aschauer&qid=1555193598&s=gateway&sr=8-2-fkmrnull
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Thank you Ann! I don’t see the Kindle option though?
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In your face mountain! Bam!
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Haha AMEN!! 😀
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What I love most about your article is when you name all the things happening under the earth, before we can see the little tiny green sprout appearing above the surface…
I think we are often mistaken during this time when we cannot see the plant which IS and has been growing out of our faith… mistaken and not thinking it HAS actually moved the mountain – and that it has started to do so right from the moment when we dropped it into the ground!
Thank you for the beautifully put reminder.
GOD bless you.
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Eva, thank you so much! My spirit is joyful, reading your insightful thoughts. Yes! There really is so much already happening when we can’t see it! I have so often needed Holy Spirit to remind me of this vital truth!
Grace and peace to you in great abundance, my sister! ❤
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Jennifer, you are so incredibly gifted! What a stunningly beautiful word picture of what takes place in the unseen realm when we are obedient to open our mouths and “speak to the mountain” in faith (confident expectation) that it will move in obedience to the Will/Word of God. So many times, we painfully drum up the courage to speak once or twice, and when we don’t see movement, we assume “it didn’t work” and surrender in discouragement. But we must keep on believing, keep on speaking, keep on in patience of faith for the full manifestation. Much love to you!! ❤
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Aw, receiving that love with a big, blessed smile! Thank you, truly, Jenny. Your spirit never ceases to spread the beautiful sunshine of Jesus! I love you!
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💗💞💗
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Jennifer, it has been a walk of faith to be patient with a love one’s battle with bipolar depression. The Lord has removed any obstacles as the two of us move forward in putting our marriage front and center.
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Wow. Yes, I very much see where you have faced a tremendous need to walk in faith. I know the Father is exceedingly proud of the way you walk down this road, trusting in Him. I praise Him for removing those obstacles from before you! May His grace and peace be yours in abundance as you continue to lean on Him through every moment!
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I love your example of ‘ongoing’ faith and Strength in Christ. I love the idea of the drill through the mountain as well. My life has shown me that as I hold on to the Saviour’s Hand He seems to whisper just one step at a time. One step at a time. Amazing how much smaller that mountain became as I looked at Him and at my steps forward.
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Such beautiful truth, my dear sister! One day at a time, sweet Jesus, leaning into You all the way! You hold the future in Your beautiful hands!! ❤
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A wonderful post, nicely said!
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Thank you so much, Warren! The richest of blessings to you! 🙂
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Same, blessings!
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