Prayer That Moves Mountains: 3 Keys to Powerful Faith

Prayer is simple, but not always easy. Talking to an invisible God can feel strange in a world that doubts the extraordinary — but prayer is powerful, and God invites you to draw near to Him through it. 

Why You Should Pray 

First and foremost, we should pray because God wants us to spend time with Him. 

He may be all-knowing, but He still wants to hear from you. 

The second reason to pray is because He works through prayer and wants to work in and through us. He’s given us His authority and empowered us through His Spirit. (1 Corinthians 5:20, Matthew 28:18; John 14:12). 

This authority is mountain-moving: 

“Truly I tell you, if anyone says to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and does not doubt in their heart but believes that what they say will happen, it will be done for them. Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.”

Mark 11:23-24 

How to Pray with Faith and Authority to Move Mountains 

If Jesus promises that what we ask will be given to us, why do our prayers go unanswered? It’s often because our prayers lack at least one of the following components: 

1. Humble Confidence (John 5:19)

Too often we get stuck in our understanding of prayer as a way we can make requests of God; we forget that it’s a way to spend time in His presence. The goal isn’t about what we want, but about preparing us for what He wants.  

Humble confidence understands that the power of our prayers doesn’t come from ourselves or our requests, but from the One who hears us–and God isn’t going to do what’s contrary to His character and will. 

The greatest mountain to be moved is often the resistance in our own hearts.

The greatest mountain to be moved is often the resistance in our own hearts. Many times we think we’re entitled for God to give us or do whatever we’re asking for because our request is “good.” However, “good” doesn’t always mean “right” or “right now.” God wants what’s best for us. 

This is why consistent, intentional time spent in His Word is important. If you don’t know what God desires, you can’t adopt His desires as your own. 

2. Bold Surrender (Luke 22:42) 

While we’ve been given the authority and power to move mountains, we don’t get to choose the mountains our faith moves. 

We don’t get to choose the mountains our faith moves. 

On the night Jesus is arrested, He demonstrates bold surrender by praying “Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.” 

He knew the betrayal He was going to face. He knew the suffering He was about to endure.  He knew it would lead to His death. He asked God the Father to take away the source of His pain before it was inflicted, but He also surrendered to God’s will for our salvation. 

Bold surrender means believing God will move mountains at our request, but trusting that if He doesn’t, it’s because His will is better than our momentary comfort. 

It also means we don’t give up praying–even if it takes a lifetime to get an answer–because we have faith that He is working even when we can’t see it. 

3. Transformed Power 

When our will becomes His will, not only will mountains in our hearts move, but the mountains in our communities and nations will move, too. When we make requests that align with His will and character, miracles will happen. 

Prayer IS Action 

Consider your prayer life. How often are you meeting with God in His Word? Think of the mountains in your life. How confident are you about God’s will in that situation?  

Mountain-moving faith is not a technique to master, but a relationship to deepen. 

 

This post is inspired by message one of our “40 Days of Prayer” sermon series entitled, “How to Pray with Faith and Authority” by Dr. John Freeland.