Prayer that Moves Mountains: 5 Ways to Ignite Powerful Prayers

Prayer that moves mountains is a powerful weapon we have as believers that can radically transform our lives. Sometimes we as Christians don’t realize the power we have in Christ through prayer, and often miss out on opportunities for God to move on our behalf.

Sometimes we view prayer like the old childhood game “telephone”. Do you remember playing that game in elementary school? Everyone sits in a circle and a special “secret” is whispered into a child’s ear. The secret is passed around the circle, one whisper at a time, until everyone has heard the message. By the time the message has made it around the circle, usually the secret has been so distorted that it is hardly recognized by the person who started the game!

If we’re honest with ourselves, we sometimes feel like our prayers are similar to the telephone game. We call on God in prayer, but sometimes feel like God must not have heard our message correctly. We question whether God heard us because the outcome of our prayers may not always be what we’ve hoped for. 

We wonder to ourselves,

Did God hear me correctly?

Why hasn’t he answered?

Does he really care?

I am convinced that contrary to our thoughts, feelings or the state of the circumstances around us, God hears our prayers. Not a single word or tear goes unnoticed by our El Roi–the God who sees.

Our prayers don’t operate like the telephone game. Thankfully, we have the Holy Spirit who hears our every thoughts, and we can be confident that our prayers reach heaven.

God knows our hearts. He hears us–and he answers our prayers. Let’s look at what it means to cultivate a prayer life that moves mountains.

How to Move Mountains in Prayer

The first account of people praying can be found in Genesis 4:26,

At that time men began to call on the name of the Lord.

In the context of this chapter, we see that the first act of sin has been committed. The world had already become saturated with sin through the disobedience of Adam and Eve in chapter 3, and now we see the reverberating effects of their choices in their children.

Cain, in his anger and jealousy of his brother Abel, struck and killed him. (Gen 4:8)

Six generations after Cain, the people of that time found themselves seeped with sin, murder, and hate. Several verses later, the people began to call on the name of the Lord in prayer.

We are also living in sinful, desperate times. Anyone can turn on the evening news and clearly see that we are living in a murderous, wicked world. The question is, are we as God’s people calling on the name of the Lord to move mountains in prayer as the people did in Genesis 4:26?

Prayer that Moves Mountains

The word call in Hebrew does not mean to call someone on your cell phone. It means to call someone by name, or to call out, recite, read, cry out, proclaim, summon, invite, commission and appoint (source).

Is this not the essence of prayer?

Prayer that moves mountains is not fancy, fluffy words. It’s not complaining about a person or a difficult situation. It’s not rubbing a spiritual genie bottle or sprinkling pixie dust on our problems.

Prayer is calling God Almighty by name, and crying out to Him in the midst of our pain.

Our prayers don’t transfer, like the telephone game, through others–but to God Himself.

And He hears our cries.

Prayer that moves mountains is…

1. Calling to a God who intimately knows us.
2. Crying out to our Abba Father in the midst of our brokenness.
3. Inviting the Holy Spirit to move in our midst.
4. Commissioning a divine appointment with the Creator of the universe.
5. Proclaiming his promises in his life-giving Word.

Can Faith Literally Move Mountains?

In the gospels Jesus talks about mustard-seed faith that moves mountains.

Here is one passage in Mark 11:23,

Truly I say to you, 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 is going to happen, it will be granted him.

Jesus also said this about moving mountains in Matthew 17:20,

Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.”

According to the words of Jesus, we must have faith to believe that when we speak to the “mountains” in our lives, they will be moved. Jesus in this passage may not be referring to moving literal mountains with our bare hands, but to using our faith to move huge obstacles and circumstances in our lives that seem impossible to overcome.

Have you ever experienced difficult, mountain-like situations in your life? No matter how impossible our circumstances may seem to us, we can trust that God is in control of our lives. When we hold onto a small ounce of faith–even faith as small as a mustard seed, we leave room for the power of God to perform mountain-moving miracles in our lives!

Our mountain-moving prayers are activated by faith in our all-powerful God.

Our prayers offered in faith don’t have to be grand in order to move mountains. All we need to do is sew seeds of prayer with mustard-seed faith. Will we be a people who call on the name of the Lord in the midst of the chaos in our world? We must be women of fervent prayer, and we can pray powerful prayers that move mountains!

God said it powerfully when he declared to King Solomon in 2 Chronicles 7:14-15,

…if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land. Now my eyes will be open and my ears attentive to the prayers offered in this place.

God spoke this powerful statement to King Solomon after he finished building the temple of the Lord. These powerful words can also apply to us today. We can pray powerfully when we do what God admonished Solomon and the people of Israel to do.

We can pray mountain-moving prayers when we:

1. Humble ourselves
2. Pray with passion and fervor
3. Seek God’s face
4. Turn from sin

When we humble ourselves before the Lord and earnestly seek him with all of our hearts, we position ourselves to hear from God. We can seek God’s face by turning away from our sins and turning towards God through prayer and by spending time in his Word. All of these things start with mustard-seed faith that can radically transform our lives!

Other Bible Verses About Prayer and Faith 

Looking for other Scriptures on how our faith can move mountains? Take a look at these powerful Bible verses on faith, and be encouraged today to pray with faith and with power!

Matthew 21:21-22

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. If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer.”

In this passage, the disciples were amazed at the power Jesus displayed when he cursed the fig tree (read the full story in Matthew 21:18-22). Jesus explained to the disciples that they too could do amazing things through their faith by believing that all things are possible with God.

Luke 17:6

He replied, “If you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea,’ and it will obey you.

In Luke 17:3-6, Jesus taught his disciples about how we need to forgive others, even if they continue to sin against us. The disciples replied by saying, “Increase our faith!” (vs 5). Forgiving others who have hurt us may seem like an impossible task, but once again, Jesus encouraged the disciples by saying that small, mustard-seed faith can do BIG things in our lives. Whenever a mountain-like situation in our lives seems impossible, remember that NOTHING is impossible with God.

Mark 11:22-26

“Have faith in God,” Jesus answered. “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. And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive them, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins.” 

This passage in Mark retells the story of the withered fig tree that is also mentioned in Matthew 21. It is also important to note that in Mark 11:26, Jesus mentioned that we should forgive others and hold no grudges against anyone when we come before God in prayer.

If we desire to pray mountain-moving prayers in our own lives, we must also be careful to examine our hearts before we pray. Are we holding onto any bitterness or unforgiveness from others who have hurt us? We can pray powerful and effective prayers when we forgive others.

Matthew 8:26-27

He replied, “You of little faith, why are you so afraid?” Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the waves, and it was completely calm. The men were amazed and asked, “What kind of man is this? Even the winds and the waves obey him!”

This is one of the accounts in the Gospels where Jesus calmed the storm on the sea of Galilee. I love this story because it powerfully displays the mighty acts of our Savior! Jesus rebuked the wind and waves, and encouraged the disciples to have faith in him. When the seas billows of life surge around us, we often feel helpless and afraid like the disciples did. But a little faith can go a long way! 

We can have faith to believe that God is with us through the storms of life. Even when our situations seem hopeless, we can remember that he will never leave or abandon us. This truth will give us the strength we need to pray through our trials, and trust that God will calm our every storm. 

7 Mountain-Moving Prayers to Pray Today

1. Prayers of Blessings

For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord bestows favor and honor; no good thing does he withhold from those whose walk is blameless. Lord Almighty, blessed is the one who trusts in you.

Psalm 84:11-12

Prayer: Lord, I thank you that you are my sun and shield. You bestow favor and honor upon me and my family, and I praise you that you will withhold no good thing from me. Because of the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross, I am now blameless in your sight. I pray a prayer of blessing over me and my family today. Thank you that your Word says that we are blessed when we trust in you. Amen.

2. Prayers for Pulling Down Strongholds

We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.

2 Corinthians 10:5 

Prayer: Lord, I cast down and demolish every argument and negative thought that sets itself up against the knowledge of your holy Word. I thank you that I have the authority through Jesus to take captive every thought and make it obedient to Christ. I tear down any stronghold within my family line, and in my community. Thank you that through Christ, I do not have to live in bondage to sin, but can break free from the bondage of strongholds in my life. Amen!

Related: Check out this post on how you can tear down strongholds in your life!

3. Prayers of Praise

Because your love is better than life, my lips will glorify you. I will praise you as long as I live, and in your name I will lift up my hands.

Psalm 63:3-4

Prayer: Lord, I praise you that your love is better than life!  May my lips be continually filled with your praise and adoration. As long as I live, help me to lift up my hands in praise and worship to you. You deserve all the praise, glory and honor in my life, now and forever. Amen.

4. Prayers of Salvation

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

John 3:16

Prayer: Lord, thank you for loving me and the world so much that you gave Jesus, your only Son, to die on the cross for the sins of the world. I thank you that I have salvation through you. I pray for the salvation of those who do not yet know you. Help them to come to know you as their Lord and Savior. Amen.

5. Prayers for Family Members

For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you. We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives…

Colossians 1:9

Prayer: Lord, help me to not never stop praying for my family members. I ask that you will cover them with your favor and surround them with your grace. I pray for my immediate and extended family, that they will know you personally. Help them to love, follow, and serve you all the days of their lives. Help me to be a beacon of light to them and a godly example. Help me to not give up on family members who have turned away from you. By your grace, bring them back to you,, and may they experience your everlasting love, grace, and peace. Amen.

6. Prayers for Wisdom

If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.

James 1:5

Prayer: Lord, I feel my heart, mind, and soul with your wisdom. Your Word says that if I lack wisdom, I can ask you, and you will graciously and generously give it to me without finding fault. Help me to grow in the knowledge and wisdom of your Word through spending time with you in prayer and bible study. Help me to grow in your wisdom everyday. Amen.

7. Prayers to Pray without Ceasing

Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

Prayer: Lord, help me to rejoice in you always, to give thanks in all circumstances, and to pray without ceasing. Each day that I am awake, fill my heart and mind with your words of truth. May my daily prayers be as often and vital as the air that I breathe. Teach me how to pray without ceasing. Amen.

Related: Check out this post on 35 Scriptures you can use to pray without ceasing.

In Conclusion 

Prayer is a wonderful honor and privilege we can participate in to draw closer to God, and to partner with him to do great things in this world. It is possible to pray mountain-moving prayers in your life today, and your prayers can have a mighty impact on those around you.

May we each commit to being fervent prayer warriors for our families and within our culture, as we activate our mustard-seed faith and watch God move mightily in our midst!

Related Prayer Posts

The Power of Intercessory Prayer

Praying Psalm 23

Seven Powerful Prayers to Start your Day

Seven Ways to Demolish Strongholds through Prayer

Read the BOLD Prayer Challenge Blog Series!

Looking for ways to deepen your prayer life? Read the BOLD Prayer Challenge blog series! You can download a free Scripture reading plan, prayer guide, Scripture cards, bookmarks, and a Bible journaling page!