The Secret of Believing Prayer
And Jesus answered them, “Have faith in God. Truly, I say to you whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and thrown into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says will come to pass, it will be done for him. Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.”—Mark 11:22-24
Answer to prayer is one of the most wonderful lessons in all of Scripture. In many hearts it must raise the question, “How can I ever attain the faith that knows it receives everything it asks for?” It is this question our Lord will answer today.
Before He gave that wonderful promise to His disciples, Christ shows where faith in the answer to prayer originates and finds its strength. “Have faith in God.”This faith precedes the faith in the promise of an answer to prayer. The power to believe a promise depends entirely on faith in the promiser. Trust in the person engenders trust in what he says. We must live and associate with God in personal, loving communication. God Himself should be everything to us. His Holy Presence is revealed where our whole being is opened and exposed to His mighty influence. There the capacity for believing His promises will be developed.
The connection between faith in God and faith in His promise will become clear to us if we consider what faith really is. It is often compared to the hand or the mouth, by which we take and use what is given to us. But it is important that we understand that faith is also the ear by which we hear what is promised and the eye by which we see what is offered. The power to take depends on this. I must hear the person who gives me the promise because the very tone of his voice gives me courage to believe. I must see him because the light of his face melts all my qualms about my right to take. The value of a promise depends on the promiser. It is on my knowledge of what the promise is that faith in the promise depends.
For this reason Jesus said, “Have faith in God,” before He gives the wonderful prayer promise. Let your eye be open to the living God. Through this eye we yield ourselves to God’s influence. Just allow it to enter and leave its impression on our minds. Believing God is simply looking at God and what He is, allowing Him to reveal His presence to us. Give Him time and completely yield to Him, receiving and rejoicing in His love. Faith is the eye through which the light of God’s presence and the vigor of His power stream into the soul. —Andrew Murray
Journal:
· Am I taking the time to see exactly what God promises in His Word?
· If I know some of His promises, am I having a hard time believing them? Why would that be?
Prayer: Father, increase my faith! Teach me to take time to wait and worship in God’s holy presence until my faith absorbs everything there is in Him for me. Let my faith see Him as the Fountain of all life, working with almighty strength to accomplish His will in the world and in me. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
