Mark 11:24 Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.

This is a very famous verse, and in my experience one of the most quoted from the whole Gospel of Mark. I do like it very much, but I think the context is extremely important. The story of Jesus cursing the fig tree (the incident that precipitated this statement) is told in Matthew, as we read on July 5^th. However, Matthew’s telling gives the impression the tree withered while they watched, whereas Mark gives the important detail that it wasn’t until the next day that they saw it had withered. That brings up the extremely important subject of timing. We are in the flow of time and experience it on a linear scale, but God is outside of time and is aware of everything at once. That’s why he told Moses His name was I AM. (Exodus 3:14) That fact needs to be in our awareness anytime we read the Bible. Peter nailed it when he wrote, “But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.” (2 Peter 3:8-9) I touched on this on the 5^th, because it’s absolutely inescapable when talking about God’s promises. However, it also applies to our own perception of ourselves. Paul dealt with the issue constantly, writing things like, “In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus.” (Romans 6:11) In the very next chapter he talks about his own struggles with sin, but it is with the awareness that it’s all a matter of perspective. After all, “God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” (2 Corinthians 5:21) We might not be experiencing that as reality at the moment, but from God’s perspective it’s already accomplished. That’s why it’s important that Jesus said, “believe that you have received it.” We need to surrender our time perception to Him, to walk in all that He has already done for us.

This is an issue I deal with constantly, as actually every believer does, whether or not they are aware of it. God is absolutely faithful and true to His promises, but it doesn’t always look that way to my flesh. Physical/medical issues are a case in point. Right now I seem to be in the throes of a summer cold, which is no fun, but at the same time, “the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed.” (Isaiah 53:5) That’s all the more acute for my wife, who has Parkinson’s Disease and a number of other medical issues. We know that we aren’t to be presumptuous, and that “In this world you will have trouble.” (John 16:33) Various Biblical figures had medical issues, and when Paul asked for healing from one, he was bluntly told, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” (2 Corinthians 12:9) We are to rest in the assurance that in Christ everything is already accomplished, whatever our temporal perception might be, and rejoice in Him.

Father, thank You for this reminder, and for the cold that is really putting a point on it. I ask for wisdom in cooperating with Your healing, and faith to indeed rest, relax, and rejoice in the process, for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!