Everything is Possible For You

As I enter this time of prayer, I repeat the words of Psalm 62:11–12, slowly, several times, making them my prayer to God:

‘One thing God has spoken, two things I have heard:

“Power belongs to you, God, and with you, Lord, is unfailing love.”’

Pause and repeat

Today, we continue to explore Christ’s prayer in Gethsemane, recorded in Mark 14:35–36.

Pause to read the passage

‘In the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus recognises God’s unfailing love but also His power. He addressed His prayers tenderly to “Abba, Father” but also reverently to the One for whom “everything is possible.” There’s an old Hebrew saying: “God is not a kindly old uncle; He is an earthquake.” This is great news for those of us struggling with unanswered prayer, because a kindly old uncle can merely smile at things that an earthquake can actually shift. Without an omnipotent, omniscient God, there is neither hope for a miracle, nor meaning in our suffering’*

Am I tempted to downgrade my expectations of God’s power in order to protect myself from disappointment? What attitudes and practices might help me to get the balance right between mountain-moving faith and patient trust?

Pause and reflect

Abba, Father, help me to be a bit more like Abraham who ‘faced the fact that his body was as good as dead—since he was about a hundred years old—and that Sarah’s womb was also dead. Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God’ (Rom. 4:19–20). Give me greater faith in Your sovereign power.

Pause and pray

As I bring this time with God to a close, I pray a prayer of limitless trust from the song ‘Oceans’:

Your grace abounds in deepest waters

Your sovereign hand will be my guide

Where feet may fail and fear surrounds me

You’ve never failed and You won’t start now

Spirit lead me where my trust is without borders

Let me walk upon the waters wherever You would call me

Take me deeper than my feet could ever wander

And my faith will be made stronger in the presence of my Saviour**

* Pete Greig, God on Mute, David C Cook, (Colorado Springs, 2020), p63

** ‘Oceans (Where Feet May Fail)’ composed by Matt Crocker, Joel Houston, and Salomen Lightelm from the album Zion by Hillsong United released on 22nd Feb, 2013, Record Company Hillsong Music.