Faith That Moves Mountains: Trusting God's Power

Devotional

Day 1: Speak, Believe, Receive—Trusting God to Move the Mountain

God has given you the authority to speak to the mountains in your life—those obstacles, fears, and burdens that stand in the way of His purpose for you. Your role is not to perform the miracle, but to speak in faith, believe in your heart, and receive what God has promised, trusting Him to manifest the answer in His timing. When you speak to your mountain, you don’t have to keep staring at it, waiting for it to change; instead, you can walk away in faith, knowing that God is working beneath the surface, even when you can’t see it yet. [02:52]

Mark 11:22-24 (NKJV)
So Jesus answered and said to them, “Have faith in God. For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says. Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them.”

Reflection: What is one “mountain” in your life you need to speak to in faith today, and how can you trust God to work even when you don’t see immediate results?

Day 2: God Works in the Roots—Stop Staring at the Leaves

When you speak God’s word over your situation, the change often begins in places you cannot see—at the roots, not the leaves. It’s easy to become discouraged when the outward symptoms remain the same, but God calls you to stop staring at the problem and trust that He is working in the unseen. Your patience and faith are tested in the waiting, but your job is to speak, believe, and let God handle the rest, praising Him for what He’s doing beneath the surface. [07:37]

Mark 11:20 (NKJV)
Now in the morning, as they passed by, they saw the fig tree dried up from the roots.

Reflection: Where in your life are you tempted to keep checking for visible change instead of trusting God to work in the unseen places?

Day 3: Guard Your Mind—Don’t Let the Enemy Plant Ideas

The enemy’s strategy is to fill your mind with thoughts that lead to worry, panic, and destructive choices. When you are consumed by a problem and keep staring at it, you open the door for spiritual warfare in your thought life. Instead, you are called to recognize, rebuke, and replace those thoughts with God’s truth, refusing to let the enemy’s ideas take root and control your actions. [14:23]

2 Corinthians 10:5 (ESV)
We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ.

Reflection: What negative or anxious thought has been consuming your mind lately, and how can you intentionally replace it with God’s truth today?

Day 4: Pray Bold Prayers—Open Your Mouth Wide

God invites you to pray big, bold prayers, not limited by your past or your sense of unworthiness. He reminds you that you are no longer a slave, but His beloved child, and He wants you to ask for more than just the bare minimum. Open your mouth wide in faith, believing that God is able and willing to fill it, because He has already brought you out of bondage and into freedom. [24:37]

Psalm 81:10 (NKJV)
I am the Lord your God, Who brought you out of the land of Egypt; Open your mouth wide, and I will fill it.

Reflection: What is one bold, “out of Egypt” prayer you can ask God for today that stretches your faith beyond your comfort zone?

Day 5: Let Go of Grudges—Forgiveness Unlocks Your Miracle

Unforgiveness can block the very answers to prayer and miracles you are seeking. God calls you to forgive those who have wronged you—not because they deserve it, but because holding a grudge keeps you from receiving all He has for you. Letting go is not about forgetting or reconciling, but about releasing the offense to God so nothing stands between you and your breakthrough. [33:56]

Mark 11:25 (NKJV)
“And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him, that your Father in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses.”

Reflection: Who do you need to forgive today so that nothing stands between you and what God wants to do in your life?

Sermon Summary

In Mark 11, Jesus teaches that faith-filled words have the power to move mountains—those obstacles and hindrances that stand in the way of God’s purpose in our lives. Mountains can take many forms: sickness, fear, financial burdens, broken relationships, or grief. The authority to speak to these mountains is not about our own power to move them, but about trusting God to act when we speak, believe, and receive. Our responsibility is to speak in faith, believe that God hears us, and receive in our hearts what we have asked for—even before we see any evidence. God’s responsibility is to perform the miracle in His timing and His way.

The story of Jesus cursing the fig tree illustrates this principle. The tree looked fruitful but had no fruit, and Jesus rebuked it for being out of order—having the appearance of fruitfulness without the reality. He spoke to the tree and walked away, not waiting to see immediate results. The next day, the disciples saw the tree had withered from the roots up. This shows that God often works beneath the surface, at the root level, before we see any visible change. We are called to speak and trust, not to keep staring at our problems, anxiously waiting for change. Staring at the problem drains us and can lead to panic, worry, and spiritual exhaustion.

The enemy works in our minds, especially when we are consumed by our problems. He plants ideas and thoughts that, if left unchecked, can lead us into destructive behaviors and decisions. The mind is the devil’s playground, but we are called to be led by the Spirit, not by anxious thoughts. When panic arises, it should be a trigger to pray, not to spiral into worry. God invites us to pray bold prayers, to open our mouths wide and ask for big things, because He is our deliverer and provider.

Ultimately, spiritual maturity means moving from panic, to prayerful concern, to confident praise. Praise shifts our focus from the problem to God, trusting that He is working even when we can’t see it. One final key: unforgiveness can block the flow of God’s power in our lives. Jesus teaches that when we pray, we must forgive others, letting go of grudges so nothing stands between us and the miracle God wants to do.

Key Takeaways

1. Faith speaks to mountains, but only God moves them. Our role is to speak, believe, and receive in faith, leaving the timing and method of the miracle to God. When we try to do God’s part, we end up frustrated; when we neglect our part, nothing happens. Trusting God means releasing control and letting Him work in ways we cannot see. [02:52]
2. God often works at the root level, not the surface. When Jesus cursed the fig tree, the change began at the roots, invisible to the eye. In the same way, God may be working in unseen places in our lives, even when outward circumstances look unchanged. Faith means praising God for what He’s doing beneath the surface, not just for visible results. [06:41]
3. The mind is a battleground, and the enemy uses our focus against us. When we are consumed by our problems, the enemy plants thoughts that can lead to destructive choices. We must be vigilant to resist, rebuke, and replace these thoughts with God’s truth, refusing to let our minds be led by fear or anxiety. [12:37]
4. Spiritual growth is moving from panic, to prayer, to praise. Panic is a sign we are consumed by our problems; prayer is the act of bringing our concerns to God; praise is the confidence that God is working, even when we don’t see it. Praise keeps our eyes on God, not on the problem, and is a mark of mature faith. [27:02]
5. Unforgiveness can block God’s power in our lives. Jesus teaches that when we pray, we must forgive anyone we hold a grudge against. Letting go of grudges is not about excusing others, but about freeing ourselves to receive what God has for us. Sometimes, the only thing standing between us and our miracle is a heart that needs to forgive. [33:06]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:40] - Speaking to Mountains: Mark 11
[01:45] - The Power and Authority of Words
[02:52] - Our Job vs. God’s Job in Faith
[05:33] - Jesus and the Fig Tree: Outward Signs vs. True Fruit
[06:41] - God Works at the Roots
[07:37] - Stop Staring, Start Trusting
[10:05] - Jesus’ Teaching Moment: You Can Do What I Did
[12:37] - The Mind: Devil’s Playground
[13:35] - How the Enemy Plants Ideas
[14:23] - Thoughts Lead to Actions
[18:21] - Disobedience in the Name of Good Ideas
[19:36] - Eve, Adam, and the Power of Ideas
[24:37] - Pray Like You’re Free
[27:02] - From Panic to Praise
[31:17] - The Power of Forgiveness
[33:06] - Letting Go of Grudges
[35:00] - Invitation and Closing Prayer

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading

Mark 11:22-25 (ESV) — 22 And Jesus answered them, “Have faith in God. 23 Truly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and thrown into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says will come to pass, it will be done for him. 24 Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. 25 And whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone, so that your Father also who is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.”

Observation Questions

In Mark 11, what does Jesus say is required for a mountain to be moved? What does He say about doubt and belief?
According to the sermon, what did Jesus do after He spoke to the fig tree? Did He wait to see if anything happened right away? [[06:41]]
What was the condition of the fig tree when the disciples saw it the next day? Where did the change start? [[06:41]]
What does Jesus say we must do when we pray, according to verse 25? Why is this important? [[33:06]]

Interpretation Questions

The sermon says that our job is to speak, believe, and receive, but only God can move the mountain. Why do you think God wants us to let go of control and trust Him with the results? [[02:52]]
The fig tree withered from the roots, not the leaves. What does this teach us about how God often works in our lives and situations? [[06:41]]
The pastor said the mind is the devil’s playground, especially when we are consumed by our problems. How can focusing on our problems open the door for negative thoughts and actions? [[12:37]]
Why does Jesus connect forgiveness with answered prayer? What might be the connection between holding a grudge and experiencing God’s power? [[33:06]]

Application Questions

The sermon talked about “mountains” in our lives—things like sickness, fear, financial burdens, or broken relationships. What is one “mountain” you are facing right now? Have you tried speaking to it in faith, or have you mostly been staring at it and worrying? [[07:37]]
The pastor said, “Stop staring at it, start trusting.” What does it look like for you to stop checking on your problem and start trusting God to work at the roots? Is there a specific step you can take this week to let go? [[07:37]]
When panic rises up, the sermon encouraged us to let that be a trigger to pray, not to spiral into worry. What usually triggers panic or anxiety for you? How can you remind yourself to pray instead of worry the next time it happens? [[19:36]]
The sermon challenged us to move from panic, to prayer, to praise. Where do you find yourself most often—panicking, praying, or praising? What would it look like to praise God for what He’s doing “at the roots,” even if you don’t see results yet? [[27:02]]
The pastor said that unforgiveness can block God’s power in our lives. Is there anyone you are holding a grudge against? What would it take for you to let go, even if they never apologize? [[33:06]]
The sermon mentioned that sometimes we pray small prayers because we don’t feel worthy or we still think like “slaves.” What is one “big” thing you want to ask God for, believing that He is your deliverer and provider? [[24:37]]
The mind is a battleground. Are there any negative or destructive thoughts you’ve been struggling with lately? What is one truth from God’s Word you can use to replace those thoughts this week? [[12:37]]

Sermon Clips

In this series, we've been talking about the power of words. Help me, Lord. The power of words. And as we discuss the power of words, we find that we have the authority and the power to attract things into our lives that are good, and we can resist and reject things out of our lives that are not good, all with the same instrument, our mouths. God has given us the power and authority to rebuke things. [00:01:15] (30 seconds) #PowerOfWordsAuthority

Mountains, mountains, mountains are obstacles. God has given us the power of words. God has given us the power of words. They are impediments. They are hindrances to the purpose and plan and blessing of God in our life. A mountain can be a diagnosis. It can be a mental illness. It can be a sickness. It can be fear. A mountain can be discrimination. It could be a financial barrier, a financial burden. It can be a relational problem. How many of you live long enough to have some mountains in your life? It could be grief. We all have mountains. And some of them are in our lives and they're obstructions that we have the authority to speak to. [00:01:45] (40 seconds) #MountainsAreObstaclesToOvercome

Now, we can't move the mountain. We speak to it. It's very important that you know what you can do. You can speak to the mountain and God will move it. And he says in this passage, when you speak, we have to know what our job is. See, our job is different than God's job in a faith space. Our job is to speak, to believe, and to receive. That's our job. Speak, believe, receive. God's job is to perform and to manifest the miraculous. We cannot do God's job and he will not do ours. [00:02:24] (33 seconds) #SpeakBelieveReceive

You cannot perform a miracle. Only God can perform a miracle. And he will not speak and believe for you. And watch this. When you speak and believe and you're receiving, watch this. You're speaking and believing and receiving is your responsibility. But what you cannot control is when you receive it. When you receive it in the natural world is different than when you believe it in the spiritual world. You can speak it, believe that you receive it before it happens. But it is up to God when it will manifest. [00:02:59] (32 seconds) #TrustGodsTiming

So what Jesus is rebuking is, is not only is it unfruitful and acting like it's fruitful, but it's also out of order. Why do you have leaves with no fruit? You shouldn't have leaves either. You are out of order. And Jesus always rebukes what's out of order. [00:05:25] (17 seconds) #SpeakAndWalkAwayInFaith

Because your mind gets attached to it so much. And what you have to understand, once your mind starts leading your life, you're in trouble. Because the mind is the devil's playground. That's where the devil works on our thought life. See, you're not supposed to be led by your mind. You're supposed to be led by your spirit. A mind that's not spirit control is a dangerous mind, and it'll take you down dark paths. Because that's Satan's playground. You can't outthink the devil. You have to recognize evil thoughts that he gives you and rebuke them, resist them, and replace them with the truth. [00:12:42] (40 seconds) #PrayLikeYoureFree

Be careful what you're thinking. Because, watch this, the devil doesn't just give you an idea because it's good the devil give you an idea because he wants you to worry about it, to be consumed by it, and to eventually make a destructive decision for others. It's how he's always worked. [00:19:04] (17 seconds) #ForgiveToFreeMiracles

You know what god is saying there ask me big prayers ask for big stuff request big things from me and i will fill it watch this open your mouth wide that's your part i will fill it that's my part. [00:22:03] (15 seconds)

Pray like you're out. Stop praying for rent. Stop praying for mortgages. Stop praying for just making it. you gotta pray like you out you gotta pray like you out he says you open your mouth I'll feel it you can't pray too big for me but I can't feel a closed mouth. [00:24:50] (42 seconds)

If between me and my miracle is a grudge, I'm letting the grudge grow. I got to let the grudge grow. Because I have not seen, and he have not heard. I got to let the grudge go. So I will forgive somebody. Not because you deserve it. I forgive you. I forgive you. Watch this. You know what that means? That don't mean you forgive somebody. I don't mean y 'all got to go start going on family trips together, and you're going in a business together. It depends on the relationship. It don't mean y 'all going to be spades, partners. You know what it says? I no longer hold a grudge. I no longer wish you ill. Watch this, watch this. I'm letting you go. It's what you did to me between you and God now. I may not be ready to pray for you yet, but I'm ready to ask God to help me let you go. Because I can't miss my miracle over being mad at you. [00:33:08] (62 seconds)

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