Our Pillar for Rejoicing
The Prayer of Faith – Part 1

Scripture Reading: Mark 11:24-25

Key Verse: James 5:15

And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise him up. If he has sinned, he will be forgiven.

A prayer of faith or offered in faith is a prayer that moves the mountains of our lives. Yet, I believe most of us struggle to understand how to pray a prayer of faith. I believe that the main identifier of a prayer of faith is the level of thanksgiving through that prayer. Remember, the whole premise of this week’s thoughts is based on Paul’s words: “But in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God” (Philippians 4:6b).

When we are truly filling our requests to God with praise for God, we are full of faith in God! Praise in prayer reveals our mindset about whether God is listening, caring, and ready to act. A request with no resulting praise reveals a heart convinced that God probably didn’t hear or care! When we get up from our prayers as burdened down as when we went to prayer, something is wrong with our perspective on prayer. Prayer is a conversation with the God of the universe. Prayer is talking to our Heavenly Father who is full of mercy and grace. Prayer is making requests to the most benevolent God that our finite minds could ever imagine! Why wouldn’t we rejoice after a prayer session?

Jesus gave His disciples the proper perspective of prayer: “Whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours” (Mark 11:24). More tomorrow.

Father, thanks for hearing my requests. Thanks for caring about my needs. Thanks for your answer. I receive it with thanksgiving! In Jesus’ Name, Amen.