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Jesus did the oddest thing! He cursed a fig tree (Matthew 21:18-22). Maybe you've cursed some wood somewhere along the way, but maybe not like this.

The Bible says Jesus was hungry. He saw a fig tree that, unlike all nearby similar trees, had leaves already, thereby "boasting" that its fruit was ready already. Jesus went to the tree expecting the fruit of the tree to meet his need. It had great promise.

What do you approach with expectancy?

We all have needs and we look around for ways to get them met. Are you hungry, cold, lonely, angry, sad, tired?

Do you expect your spouse to meet your needs? Your paycheck? Your portfolio? Your church?

Have your expectatons ever been disappointed? Your pastor ignores your birthday? Your paycheck doesn't go around? The market dips?

What is it in your life this moment on which you are focusing your attention hoping to get some need met? What is promising you fruit and isn't producing? What has failed you recently?

If you give that thing to Jesus and allow Him, He will curse it for you. That's right, whatever consumes your focus. If you let Him, Jesus will curse that consuming focus so you can give up on that source and focus on Jesus as Source of everything you need.

That's why Jesus cursed the fig tree. Mark's record of the story (Mark 11:14) hints that Jesus' purpose was that no one should expect any fruit from that tree ever again. He cursed the source of disappointed expectations.

After the fig tree got out of the way, then Jesus gave the promise that whatever you or I ask for in prayer, believing, we will receive, even to the moving of mountains.

Next post: What happens when mountains move?