The Prayer of Faith

" 'Have faith in God.' Jesus answered.  'I tell you the truth, if anyone says to this mountain, `Go,throw yourself into the sea,' and does not doubt in his heart but believes that what he says will happen, it will be done for him. Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.' " (Mark 11:22-24}.

When I first started to read the Bible and came across passages such as this one I had to set them aside.  Even after I took out the part about a mountain throwing itself into the sea, the passage was still too incredible to be taken seriously… Whatever I ask for? Come on!  But I do want to believe Jesus.  I can’t put it off any longer. I must go to Him with my oft-repeated request, “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!”(Mark 9:24).

The first thing I see is that the incredible promise Jesus made here is preceded by a simple command, “Have faith in God.” OK, I do have faith in God. He drew me out of my former atheism by His irresistible grace. I chose to believe in Him because He first chose me. I know He exists and rewards those who seek Him. I sought Him earnestly and He rewarded me by opening the eyes and ears of my heart so I can ‘see’ and ‘hear’ Him as He speaks to me through His Word the Bible. God replaced my stony rejecting heart with a heart warm with desire for Him. He enlarged my heart and I received his Son. His Spirit lives within me in union with my spirit, and He keeps on revealing to me more of himself and His purposes for my life.

Now I see! The key lies in my asking according to His purposes for my life. The only way I can ask for anything without doubting in my heart is by knowing God and knowing myself in Christ as I trust and obey him in all that I do. The prayer of faith is the request God will honor because that is what He wants, with all His heart, for me.

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