Thought for the Week from Day by Day with God - week beginning Sunday 7 February 2010

Faith for believing prayer

Mark 11:12-26 (NIV)

'Have faith in God... Whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.'

When I was embroiled in a situation in which I felt unfairly treated and misrepresented, my natural reaction was to pray for an outcome that benefited me, justified me and would consequently denigrate the opposition. Yet I could not really believe that such a prayer would be answered because its very content proved I wasn't trusting in the nature of God as revealed in the Bible. Rather, I would be seeking to put my faith in a god who promises to solve all my problems, behaves like Santa in giving me what I want, responds like a genie in accordance with my purpose and opinion, and justifies me on the basis of my perceived goodness rather than the righteousness of Christ.

'Have faith in God,' Jesus said (v.22), beginning another lesson in prayer. Before we can believe in the promise of an answer to prayer, we need first to trust the one who makes the promise - and, to do that, we need to know him.

God will not respond by acting against his character or purpose in order to meet my personal desire for vindication, provision or the scorning of my enemies. God's will is sovereign and he himself is righteous, loving, holy, powerful, wise, faithful, good, merciful, just, gracious and so on. Our primary aim in prayer is to deepen our knowledge of the true God and not some idealistic figment of our imagination or cultural understanding; we need to focus on the giver rather than his gifts.

Unless we are living a life of faith - seeking to hear and see God in everyday situations, yielding to his work, walking in step with his Holy Spirit and surrendering to him in prayer - it's unlikely that we will experience the assurance of believing prayer that has power to move life's 'mountains'.

Reflection

What is the object of your prayer - God of his answer? Is your prayer offered in the spirit of forgiveness?

Read Mattew 6:9-15 to recall Jesus' emphasis on forgiveness and prayer.

Anne le Tissier

This reading is taken from Day by Day with God , published every four months in January, May and September.

Further Information and subscriptions