“Therefore I tell you, all things whatever you pray and ask for, believe that you have received them, and you shall have them.” Mark 11:24
Have you ever wondered why some prayers are answered so quickly while others never seem to work?
2 Corinthians 1:20 clearly states that ALL the promises of God are “YES” and “AMEN”, in and through Jesus Christ.
So basically when you ask for anything God promised you through His Word, the answer is automatically a resounding “YES”. There are no “ifs” or “buts” about it.
Why is it then that some people do not see evidence of those promises in their lives even though they’ve prayed to receive it?
Hebrews 11:1 has this to say, “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”
From this we can see that the reason for the lack of evidence of God’s promises in one’s life has to do with faith.
At this point, some people would then say, “Oh! So I just need to have more faith!”.
But it’s not really how much faith we have, but rather who and what we place it in that truly matters. For even faith the size of a mustard seed can move mountains when rightly exercised.
So what then, is the secret to answered prayers? In simple words, it’s rightly exercised faith placed in the Goodness of God and His fulfilled promises through Jesus’ finished work.
And how do you know whether you’re exercising your faith correctly? Well, simply do a check of your mind and your heart!
Let’s say you’re having financial troubles. Bills are piling up and creditors are chasing after you everyday. Suddenly, one day, out of the blue, you’re notified by a renowned law firm that you’ve inherited a huge fortune from a distant relative. It not only covers your debt, but would make you extremely wealthy.
What would you be thinking? How would you be feeling? Can you imagine it?
Most likely, you’ll be feeling a strong sense of relief and elation, would you not?
You may even be jumping up and down, praising and thanking God.
And all these, before you’ve even received a single cent of money! Because get this, you’ve only received news of your inheritance, you’ve not yet received the money in your bank account have you? But yet, you’re celebrating in excitement. Why? It’s because you have ‘faith’ that the money will come to you isn’t it?
And yet, when we pray, some of us keep pleading with God saying,”Please God! Please help me with this problem. I don’t think I can live another day with it!” – even though God has clearly already answered “YES”.
Some others may say the words, “Yes Father! I receive your promises!” – but one look at their disposition and you know they don’t really believe in that because right after they said those words, they’re fearful and worried again.
If they truly believed in God’s promises, wouldn’t they be celebrating in joy instead?
In short, when you’re fearful and worried, you’re putting your faith in problems and uncertainties. Whereas when you put their faith in God and his fulfilled promises, you’d be celebrating and joyful!
But remember, faith can’t be faked. You can be dancing & singing praises with a smile plastered to your face and yet still have a heavy & troubled heart. There’s no use trying to lie to yourself or God.
Instead, acknowledge any doubts and insecurities that you have. After which, repent (renew your mind) and move on to focusing on the unchanging love and promises of God – realise how much greater and more powerful they are compared to your problems! If your heart is singing with joy after your prayer, you know you’ve done it right. Now your job is to continue carrying that faith with you throughout your day and God will handle the rest.
So what is your choice today? Will you put your faith in your problems? Or in God and His Word?
Be Greatly Blessed!
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References:
Mark 1:12-26
The next day, when they had come out from Bethany, he was hungry. Seeing a fig tree afar off having leaves, he came to see if perhaps he might find anything on it. When he came to it, he found nothing but leaves, for it was not the season for figs. Jesus told it, “May no one ever eat fruit from you again!” and his disciples heard it.
They came to Jerusalem, and Jesus entered into the temple, and began to throw out those who sold and those who bought in the temple, and overthrew the money changers’ tables, and the seats of those who sold the doves. He would not allow anyone to carry a container through the temple. He taught, saying to them, “Isn’t it written, ‘My house will be called a house of prayer for all the nations?’ But you have made it a den of robbers!”
The chief priests and the scribes heard it, and sought how they might destroy him. For they feared him, because all the multitude was astonished at his teaching.
When evening came, he went out of the city. As they passed by in the morning, they saw the fig tree withered away from the roots. Peter, remembering, said to him, “Rabbi, look! The fig tree which you cursed has withered away.”
Jesus answered them, “Have faith in God. For most certainly I tell you, whoever may tell this mountain, ‘Be taken up and cast into the sea,’ and doesn’t doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says is happening; he shall have whatever he says. Therefore I tell you, all things whatever you pray and ask for, believe that you have received them, and you shall have them. Whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone; so that your Father, who is in heaven, may also forgive you your transgressions. But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father in heaven forgive your transgressions.”
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