I’ve been investing some time in the book of Matthew, and this morning I lingered for a while in Matthew 21:18-22. Here’s what verses 21-22 say:

‘Jesus replied, ‘Truly I tell you, if you have faith and do not doubt, not only can you do what was done to the fig tree, but also you can say to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and it will be done. (22) If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer.” (NIV)

I’ve read this many times before. I have heard sermons on this text, many solid while some have gone too far with it by claiming that if we work up enough faith, we could literally tell a mountain to jump in the sea. The mountain thing is obviously hyperbole. After all, I don’t think Jesus supports man-made tsunami’s.

It did, however, challenge me to ask myself, ‘Am I praying big prayers?’

Hyperbole or not, God calls us to partner with Him in some mountainous, momentous things in this world; stuff that changes lives, impacts culture and brings greater exposure and glory to Jesus.

Jesus’ statement also gave me pause to think, ‘Is my faith provoking more risk?’

Does who I believe God is and what He’s asking of my life compel me to step out in ways that not only are uncomfortable, but scary? Not unwise or self-serving, but bold acts of love, and audacious ideas to truly bring positive, lasting change in something that’s broken?

Nudging Everest, K2, or Matterhorn even a centimeter by faith might remain a debate for the few. But for the rest of us, there’s no debate that God wants us to pray big, bold, mammoth prayers that will move all kinds of mountains in our lives and our world.