One morning, when I was seeking the Lord about a persistent problem that was causing me some discouragement, He led me to the account in Mark's Gospel of the father who brings his demon-possessed boy to Jesus' disciples for deliverance. When the disciples fail in their endeavor, the father's faith is understandably shaken. That's when Jesus steps in and points to the father's faith as the determinant in the matter's outcome. We can all relate to this desperate father's pleas when he declares, "I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!" (Mark 9:24 NIV) Since faith is a gift from God, we have the privilege and responsibility to pray for it. We also have the responsibility to cooperate with God for the building of our faith by spending regular time in His Word. (Romans 10:17; Acts 20:32) But on this occasion, the Lord wanted to challenge me to begin speaking my faith to the mountains in my life.

The Holy Spirit led me to Luke's Gospel, where "the apostles said to the Lord, 'Increase our faith!'" And Jesus replied, "If you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, 'Be uprooted and planted in the sea,' and it will obey you." (Luke 17:5-6 NIV) The Lord was trying to tell me that I didn't need to pray for more faith for my situation, but I needed to exercise the faith I already had by speaking to my problems, and commanding them to depart from me. This wasn't exactly new to me. I had been speaking to obstacles, hindrances, and problems that had come against me and my family for many years - and I had seen God work miracles as a result. But apparently, the Lord thought I needed a reminder, so that I wouldn't passively stand by and allow the devil and his evil cohorts to continue to oppress and depress me.

As if I needed reassurance, the Spirit of God showed me Matthew 17:20 (NIV), where Jesus says: "Truly I tell you, 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. Nothing will be impossible for you." Notice that Jesus says if you have the tiniest bit of faith, you can SAY. He's trying to drive home the point that we can release and exercise our faith through our words. When we do, the mountain WILL move, and NOTHING will be impossible for us.

Not long ago, I needed healing in my body, and I earnestly prayed the words of the centurion in Matthew 8:8 (AMP): "'Only speak the word' and I will be healed." Immediately, the Holy Spirit shot back at me, "YOU speak the Word!" I knew it was the Lord saying that if I wanted my healing, I was going to have to do my part. I would have to speak God's Word to the illness, and also to my body. Remember this - faith speaks. It speaks the Word of God to problems like sickness and disease, and debt and lack. It commands mountains to be removed. It demands that all things line up with the Word and the will of God. When we speak our faith in line with God's purposes, He backs up our words, and circumstances and situations change - and all things become possible.

Maybe you have some situations in your own life that desperately need changing today. Don't despair. God is on your side, and He will help you as you do your part. Begin speaking your faith in accordance with the Lord's will for you, and watch those mountains move!

Prayer: Lord, teach me how to seek Your will - Your best - in every situation. Show me how to partner with You to see the mountains in my life removed according to Your good plans for me. Help me to devote myself to Your Word, so that I can use it as an effective weapon against the forces of darkness that would come against me. (Ephesians 6:17) Thank You for the deliverances and victories that will be mine as I follow Your lead!