The Spirit has made it clear to me that all my praying is in vain unless I pray in faith. I could weep, fast, intercede, agonize and travail in prayer and still make no impact with the Lord at all unless I am doing it with simple, childlike faith.
God will not act on our behalf without faith. Scripture says, “Let not that man [the doubter] suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord” (James 1:7, NKJV).
Despite this, we often have very little confidence in God, so little faith in his willingness and desire to answer our heart’s cry. When we get to heaven, we will be amazed to discover all the blessings, peace and power we had at our disposal but did not appropriate because of our weak faith.
I am moved upon by the Holy Spirit to challenge you to increase your faith. The book of Mark relates the story of a man who brought his son to Jesus. “He has a mute spirit,” said the man. “When it seizes him, it convulses him and tries to destroy him. He is in great agony. I took him to your disciples, but they could do nothing. Please help my son!” Jesus was moved with compassion for this poor, suffering child and his distraught father. He said, “If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes” (Mark 9:23). Hear the father’s raw honesty as he cries out with tears, “Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!” (Mark 9:24).
Take your unbelief to the Lord and lay it at his feet. He wants to flood your soul with confidence in his willingness to over-answer your prayers with abundance, more than you can ask or think.
Do you want to increase your faith? When you go to prayer again, lay hold of the following scriptures and use them to reason with the Lord. He will not deny his own Word.
• Psalm 62:8
• Psalm 91:4
• Psalm 56:3
• Proverbs 30:5
• Jeremiah 29:10-14
Hold on by faith! He will answer you soon.