"Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you" - Jeremiah 29:12 (NIV).

The metaphor prayer moves mountains can appear fanciful but the reality is - prayer does move mountains! When you are faced with a mountain everything is overshadowed by its size that you can't imagine moving any further. In life one can come across mountains of financial distress or poor health, that life suddenly comes to a standstill.

King David was one person who faced mountains but then knew the power of prayer. Towards the end of his life he made an error when he ordered a census of Israel. "David was conscience-stricken after he had counted the fighting men, and he said to the Lord, “I have sinned greatly in what I have done. Now, Lord, I beg you, take away the guilt of your servant. I have done a very foolish thing" (2 Sam 24: 10).

For this, a devastating plague visited upon the land and "seventy thousand of the people from Dan to Beersheba died" (vv 15).

Because he knew the power of prayer David turned to God. "When David saw the angel who was striking down the people, he said to the Lord, “I have sinned; I, the shepherd, have done wrong. These are but sheep. What have they done? Let your hand fall on me and my family" (vv 17). He then decided to build an altar of prayer. "David built an altar to the Lord there and sacrificed burnt offerings and fellowship offerings. Then the Lord answered his prayer in behalf of the land, and the plague on Israel was stopped" (vv 25).

What challenge are you facing today? Is it as sweeping as the plague that befell Israel! There is one king who knew that prayer could prevail over any circumstances, and he never hesitated to resort to prayer and saw amazing results. Prayer does indeed move mountains, no matter what.

Prayer for today: Lord Father God of Abraham, maker of heaven and earth, where faced with any mountain I turn to you and cry for deliverance, trusting in your power as ever, this I pray in Jesus's name.