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And Jesus answered them, “Truly, I say to you, if you have faith and do not doubt, you will not only do what has been done to the fig tree, but even if you say to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and thrown into the sea,’ it will happen. And whatever you ask in prayer, you will receive, if you have faith.”¹

What did Jesus mean by faith? Definitely not positive thinking! The writer of Hebrews states, Now (not ignoring the present challenges but being cognizant of it) faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.² He who asks in faith without doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.³ This conviction and confidence is brought about by knowing Jesus (different from knowing about Jesus; even the devil knows who Jesus is and tremble before him⁴)—knowledge that is born out of having had a personal encounter with him.

Whose prayers are heard? Those whom he has chosen and redeemed⁵—called by his name.⁶  And to whom do we pray to? Our Father⁷ through Jesus. “Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father. Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it.⁸ Jesus said to him, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you had known me, you would have known my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him.⁹

Jesus was foreknown before the foundation of the World but was made manifest in the last times for the sake of you who through him are believers in God, . . .¹⁰ he is Lord of lords and King of kings, and those with him are called and chosen and faithful.¹¹ God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, . . . and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.¹² The earth is the LORD’s and the fullness thereof, the world and those who dwell therein . . .¹³

Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.¹⁴ Know with full certainty that every word of his will be fulfilled—so shall my word be that goes out of my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it.¹⁵ Not one word of all the good promises that the LORD had made to the house of Israel had failed; all came to pass.¹⁶ Jesus himself watches over his word to perform it.¹⁷ When he promises never to leave you nor forsake you as you seek him first,¹⁸ you have his full assurance and confidence! But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.¹⁹ Father, I desire that they also, whom you have given me, may be with me where I am . . . .²⁰  For all the promises of God find their Yes in him. That is why it is through him that we utter our Amen to God for his glory. . . .²¹