Peace and Freedom

When we pray for anything—a health challenge, a prosperity issue, or a difficulty in relationships—it is important to remind ourselves what we are actually praying for. In nearly every case, we can reduce our need to peace of mind and freedom from fear. We certainly want to resolve the issue that confronts us, whatever that may be. And one of the most effective ways of doing this is to realize that peace of mind and freedom from fear are always accessible. We can, in fact, experience both in this very moment.
We all recall this courage-inspiring statement from Jesus:

“Whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and cast 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” (Mark 11:23).

While it is perfectly reasonable to assume that our mountain is the apparent challenge we face, a little consideration can prove otherwise. For example, what are we feeling as we think of our challenge? Most of us would acknowledge that we harbor a sense of uneasiness that may rise to the level of fear. Let’s shift our focus from the external challenge and think of our mountain as the uneasiness we’re experiencing. Now is it possible to say to this mountain, Be taken up and cast into the sea? In other words, are we able to let go of the emotional power we are giving to this situation and achieve some level of peace and freedom?

Yes, we can do this. It will likely require a concerted effort of sitting still, with the express intention of reaching the point where we do not doubt in our heart that we have released, or cast into the sea, the negative energy of fear and doubt. During this prayer exercise, we take our attention away from the outer condition and focus only on our internal experience. We know our affirmative prayer is fulfilled the moment we achieve peace of mind and freedom from fear.

I think that Jesus used the image of a mountain to illustrate that problem solving through prayer follows the same principle, regardless of the size of the challenge. Start with your own energy and believe that what you say will come to pass. And it will be done for you.