Matthew 21:22

“And whatever you ask in prayer, you will receive, if you have faith.”

Devotional Thoughts

By David Wilkerson

Prayer is the secret to spiritual growth, but if we go to the throne only for our personal edification and needs, we are being selfish. The Bible shows us that we cannot neglect to pray seriously for the needs of those around us and gives us examples of “helpful prayers” (see 2 Corinthians 1:11).

People often say, “I’ll pray for you,” and they may pray once or twice and then quickly forget the other person’s need. A true prayer helper is one who prays without ceasing for the needs of others. He doesn't pray for them just once and then stop praying. No, he intercedes day after day.

Your prayers don't have to be long. Simply state your request and trust God to hear you.

This was illustrated for me once when I was sick in bed. One of my grandsons came in and announced, "Papa, I'm going to pray for you." My little helper laid his hand on my head and prayed, "Jesus, make him all better."

I smiled and thanked him for praying. But he just kept looking at me. Finally, he said, "You're healed. Get up!" So I did get up — and I was healed. His prayer of faith brought me to my feet.

Mighty deliverances take place when God's saints seek him diligently with childlike faith for the needs of others. We can look at the Scriptures and see how God has moved powerfully as a result of prayer and take courage in being helpers in prayer. See how Paul gives a moving testimony of this:

"We had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves but in God who raises the dead, who delivered us from so great a death, and does deliver us: in whom we trust that He will still deliver us, you also helping together in prayer for us, that thanks may be given by many persons on our behalf for the gift granted to us through many" (2 Corinthians 1:9–11).