Praying with Faith

Matt 15:28

28        Then Jesus answered and said unto her, O woman, great is thy faith: be it unto thee even as thou wilt. And her daughter was made whole from that very hour. (KJV)

I recently received an email devotional that had an excellent message to it.  We need to pray in faith.  The other devotional spoke of how some people pray in desperation, but God expects a believer to pray not in desperation, but in faith, really believing that God will bring to pass that which he is hoping for, cannot yet see, and being confident that that which is not will become reality. 

The lady Jesus spoke to in the above verse was desperate regarding her daughter.  The child was in bad shape and the mother was at her wits end.  So out of her great love for her daughter she turned to Jesus whom she knew could cure her daughter.  Out of that love and faith she was persistent, even when the disciples tried to get Jesus to send her away.  If you have read  the story, Jesus was ignoring her cries when he first heard them, basically because He was sent to the lost sheep of Israel at that time and so gentiles were not part of the program just yet.  And as you know her persistence because of love and faith paid off.

And as a result Jesus answered her prayer, her petition.  And she was humble enough-another important characteristic in this woman-to realize that Jesus’ ministry was to the Jews rather than gentiles.  Her answer to Jesus was a very wise one.  And I know He was glad to answer her prayer.

Jesus is always glad to answer our prayers.  But He does want us praying in faith.  The woman who had the issue of blood for many years had lots of faith.  God healed her without her even speaking aloud to Jesus regarding her need. 

Faith does not limit itself to saying to God-“I hope you want to heal me and I hope you will heal me.”  A statement like that is basically a statement of doubt, not faith.  Most people don’t have trouble believing God can heal them or can answer whatever the prayer is.  Where most people fail is stopping only wit the hope that would want to heal them.  They are not really sure God wants to.  But they hope He would be interested in healing them.  They hope that it is God’s will.  But what does John say about that? In

I Jn 5:14

14        And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us: (KJV)

According to John, if you ask according to God’s will, He will answer that prayer.  Where we fall short and fail is in the area of knowledge of God’s will.  If we don’t know it is God’s will, how can we pray in confidence?  And how can God answer the prayer?  So first-when praying for something, determine clearly in your own mind whether what you are asking for is His will.  Once you know one way or another, you know whether to even pray it.  And when the answer is yes, you can truly pray in confidence and with faith.  The lady with the sick child knew it was God’s will for her daughter to be made whole.  She knew too who could do it.  God answered her prayer. 

Look also at

Matt 21:22

22        And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive. (KJV)

That lady believed.  We can take Jesus’ word for things ourselves and receive what we ask for when we know it is in His will.  Jesus said if you had even the tiniest of faith-no bigger than a mustard see-with that  tiniest faith you can move mountains-both literally and figuratively.  But remember you must pray with no doubting:

Matt 21:21

21        Jesus answered and said unto them, Verily I say unto you, If ye have faith, and doubt not, ye shall not only do this which is done to the fig tree, but also if ye shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; it shall be done. (KJV)

Why must you not doubt?  1.  Jesus said so, 2.  It prevents prayers from being answered.  See

Mark 6:5-6

5          And he could there do no mighty work, save that he laid his hands upon a few sick folk, and healed them.

6          And he marvelled because of their unbelief. And he went round about the villages, teaching.

(KJV)

His own home territory-he could do no mighty work there, because of their unbelief.  It amazed Him to see such little faith.   So you see --Faith opens the way for God to work. 

So ladies and gentlemen, pray with faith!  Don’t pray with any doubts interfering, because as James says, doubt robs you of prayers being answered--see

James 1:6-7

6          But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.

7          For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord. (KJV)

So as I said-pray with faith, without doubting, and God will be answering your prayers. 

God bless and have a great weekend.  The Good News Lady