Principles of Effective Prayer - Part 4
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It's impossible to please God apart from faith. And why? Because anyone who wants to approach God must believe both that he exists and that he cares enough to respond to those who seek him. Hebrews 11:6 The Message
Effective prayer requires faith. Again and again in the gospels it is faith, not need, that moves the heart of God. Faith is the confidence that what we pray for will actually happen (Hebrews 11:1). Faith holds on to God's promise and refuses to believe or speak anything contrary to it. Faith holds to the fact that God has heard, that He is actively working in the situation, and that He will answer in due time. Faith refuses to quit until natural circumstances line up with what God's word requires.
For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith. Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them. Mark 11:23-24 KJV (emphasis added)
Some people may mistake faith for blind optimism, but faith is anything but blind. It stands on the unshakable foundation of the word of God. In Luke 4, Jesus was given the scroll of the book of Isaiah; He opened it and found the place where it was written concerning Him. When we need God's intervention in a situation, it is imperative that we find out what the bible says concerning our situation. Why? Because the bible is God's will. It is a written record of what He has promised. He cannot lie; He is bound to His word. If the bible promises it, you can depend on it. When you have a scripture to "stand on," you can have unshakable faith.
The opposite of unshakable faith is being double-minded. (Did God really hear? Will He really do anything? Maybe I need a backup plan. God might need my help.) James says that if we don't ask in faith, we should not expect to receive anything from God (James 1:5-8). But if we are praying in agreement with His word, then we are praying in agreement with His will. And this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him (1 John 5:14-15).
Father God, thank You for Your word. Because Your word is unshakable, faith in Your word can be steadfast and unmovable - rock solid faith established on Rock-solid promises. And every promise "yes and amen" in Jesus Christ (2 Corinthians 1:20). All praise and glory be unto You, my Father. In Jesus' name, amen.
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