01/22/2024
Faith and prayer are powerful in the hands of the Christian, and their effect is not to be underestimated. We have spoken about praying within the will of God, but simply asking for something without the faith that what we have asked for will be given to us is not enough. We must believe, and have faith that God intends to provide that thing. We need to trust completely in His Word and provision. Have you ever prayed for the Lord to do or provide something, and then wondered if He had heard you, or if He would actually do so? This is a lack of faith.
“Jesus told his disciples, “Have faith in God! I tell all of you with certainty, if anyone says to this mountain, ‘Be lifted up and thrown into the sea,’ if he doesn’t doubt in his heart but believes that what he says will happen, it will be done for him. That is why I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received[c] it and it will be yours.””
Mark 11:22-24 ISV
We think about having faith in many ways such as in the fact that Jesus is the Son of God, or that He has redeemed us from our sin and defeated death, but have we ever contemplated the fact that we need to have an absolute faith in every Word that our Father has spoken, and the gospel of Jesus?
My earthly father often told me things that he intended to do with me, and in his heart he believed them true, and really wanted to do them. There were times when he promised me that we would go fishing, or that he would buy me something I had asked for, but when the time came for those things to happen something might interfere with his plans. Maybe it rained so hard that it was too dangerous for us to go fishing, or an unexpected repair had to be made to our house and he had to buy groceries with the money he had allocated for unnecessary things. Things like this occur in our physical lives, and we come to know and expect that not everything our father would like to do for us would necessarily happen. There were things beyond his control that could interfere with the best of his intentions… but this is not true of our Heavenly Father.
““I know that you can do anything and nothing that you plan is impossible.”
Job 42:2 ISV
God knows the beginning from the end, and if for no other reason than this He could avoid promising us something that He wouldn’t be able to provide, but His ability goes much further than just knowing what will happen and maneuvering through those circumstances. He can do all things, and this includes stilling a storm so that we can go fishing together, or making manna cover the ground so that His children will not go hungry. Jesus knew that God could alter the world to give Him whatever He asked for, and he never doubted in that reality; yet He also knew the will of God, and didn’t ask Him to alter what was a part of it. Do we have that kind of unwavering faith when we pray, or do we apply to God the same expectation we have in our earthly father?
“Then he withdrew from them about a stone’s throw, knelt down, and began to pray, “Father, if you are willing, take this cup away from me. Yet not my will but yours be done.””
Luke 22:41-42
God our Father moves mountains when we ask Him to do so, but do we ask Him to move those that are within His will to be moved? Or, do we ask Him selfishly to move those that only we would like to be moved? Is this the root of our disbelief, and lack of faith… that we pray for things He knows are not good for us, that are contrary to His will, and that go against who He is?
Then, when we don’t get what we have asked for are we like spoiled earthly children who cry and complain? Are we intolerant when we don’t get to go fishing on a dangerous day, or receive a new bicycle when others are starving? Is our faith shaken, not by His actions, but by our own intolerance of His good and perfect will?
“And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”
Romans 12:2 KJV
Prayer:
Father, thank you for answering our prayers when they are prayed with an expectant and unwavering faith, and conform to your will and character. Lead us as we search out your desire in all things, and give us an understanding of it through your Holy Spirit as you speak it to us. Abba, we thank you for calling us your children, and we desire to be good, obedient, and loving children who honor you always. Thank you for Jesus who walked this world and showed us what is expected of us as we follow after Him. Great are you who teaches us through your Word, and the Gospel of your Son Jesus, to be righteous, and holy in our spiritual walk, and to expect every word you speak to be true, and good. Merciful and full of grace are you who knows the path we should follow and directs us back to it when we wander astray. Praised be your name for giving us the prayers of Jesus who teaches us how to pray them, and for your Holy Spirit who gives us the words to say when we are at a loss for them. We give you glory Father for every miracle and answered prayer because they are not in accordance with our fallible desires, but your perfect and infallible will. Holy, Holy, Holy, are you our God who hears our every prayer, and gives to us whatever is prayed in the name of Jesus… the bearer of your good tidings to the world.
Rich Forbes